Fifth Annual Miles For Maddog Run, Walk Planned In Frankfort

FRANKFORT, IL — The fifth annual Miles for Maddog 5k/10k run and walk will be held in Frankfort on June 21.

The race, which celebrates the life-saving gifts of organ, eye and tissue donation, will be held at Lincoln-Way North High School, running through Island Prairie Park and past the Giving Tree Organ and Tissue Donation Memorials, according to a news release.

The event is hosted by the Maddog Strong Foundation. The nonprofit was created in honor of Maddie Grobmeier, who died after an acute asthma attack when she was 18. Her parents created a nonprofit in her honor, which encourages others to consider organ donation — just as Maddie did. The Maddog Strong Foundation shares Maddie's story and educates teens and their families about the value of organ and tissue donation.

Event registration and details about the event are available on the nonprofit's website.

The nonprofit said the event will include hundreds of tributes to organ and tissue donors including a donor tribute area with photos of over 175 donor heroes, a display with over 2,800 marker flags representing last year’s Illinois organ and tissue donors, a flag parade with flags from organ and tissue donation organizations from around the United States and the Giving Tree Living Memorials at Island Prairie Park.

Local businesses, nonprofits and Illinois organ donation and transplantation organizations will be on hand as well.

All proceeds from the event will support the national organ and tissue donation registration,
education and outreach efforts by the Maddog Strong Foundation.