Christmas Without Cancer Begins 'Season of Giving' with 5K

By Bill Figel

Organizers from Christmas Without Cancer will conduct its First Annual 5K Run/Walk in Evergreen Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, to launch the “season of giving” even earlier for families faced with the daunting challenges of cancer during the holiday season.

Last spring, organizers approached the Village of Evergreen Park to secure approval and complete a permit process with Mayor James Sexton and Parks and Recreation Director Dennis Duffy.

“People are hurting because of this vicious monster cancer,” said Sexton. “Christmas Without Cancer raises money locally to help families locally and anything we can do to facilitate and support that effort in Evergreen Park, we’ll do. People feel good knowing donations are helping right here at home.”

Evergreen Park resident Gerri Neylon, an RN in the radiation oncology department at Advocate Christ Medical Center, leads volunteers on an annual Christmas season mission to bring holiday cheer to families impacted by cancer.

Neylon is president and founder of Christmas Without Cancer, whose mission is to keep the spirit of Christmas intact for families by providing gifts, gift cards and monies for basic necessities. Neylon knows first hand the burden cancer inflicts on a family, which caused her to begin a venture at her kitchen table 13 years ago. The effort has mushroomed into a “very real response network” over the last dozen Christmas seasons.

“Christmas Without Cancer has gained a significant amount of notoriety which has resulted in us recognizing more need right here in our neighborhoods,” said Neylon. “So our challenge has been to keep up so we can manage the expectation of those we want to give.”

The 5K Run and Walk steps off Saturday, Oct. 3, and the event runs 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

A short track kid race begins at 10 a.m.

There is a pre-race packet pickup at 1st National Bank of Evergreen Park at 95th and Pulaski Wednesday, Sept. 30, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. and on Thursday, Oct. 1, 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Adult registration is $30 and $15 for kids.

Race day registration and packet pick up begins at 7 a.m. and extends until 8:30 a.m. Questions can be directed to race director Michael Chappetto at 708-642-0045 or MichaelChappetto@Hotmail.com.

The Red Palm Bar & Grill, a Silver Sponsor for the event, is hosting the after-party immediately following the race. The 5K participants and volunteers receive a free drink ticket. Pizza will be provided and there will be raffles, split the pot, lottery hat raffle and college football inside and on the patio. All supporters are welcome to the party for a $10 donation to benefit families.

Since 2003, Christmas Without Cancer has quietly identified and adopted multiple families in late fall and by Christmas season supplied them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas and other “need” items. The team is comprised of 16 core volunteers, with dozens of other “go to” individuals.

According to Neylon, the families’ challenges are physical, emotional and financial. The Christmas Without Cancer team takes great satisfaction in addressing some of those challenges so the family members can devote themselves to each other during the Christmas season.

Neylon and Christmas Without Cancer enjoyed newfound recognition in 2012, raising awareness and more money than in most previous years, despite a down economy. Neylon attributes recent success to longevity and the innate desire people have to give, especially at Christmas time. Neylon did not set out with expectations to build awareness or to build a brand but as requests came in from hundreds of area families, the challenge to respond became greater.

Christmas Without Cancer’s recent success began to provide “pennies from heaven” for more families. As more checks and donations arrived, Neylon was able to quietly match it to need or even hardship.