Run/Walk Sunday Honors Memory Of Trooper Clay Carns In Palos Heights

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Join FIT4Mom Palos-Orland Sunday, Jan. 5, for a four-mile walk-run in honor of the Illinois State Trooper Clay Carns, who was struck and killed Dec. 23 by a vehicle while cleaning accident debris from the roadway near Channahon. The 35-year-old trooper will be laid to rest this week.

Runners and walked will gather at 9 a.m. Sunday in the baseball field parking lot at Memorial Park, 7701 W. College Drive, Palos Heights, a block west of the Palos Heights Police Department. Due to the intense interest in this event, please note the new location. The course is four miles (6.512 km), in honor of Trooper Clay’s badge number, #6512. All fitness levels are welcome.

Instead of a registration fee, the FIT4MOM Palos-Orland is asking for cash donations, Zelle payments or gift cards (Aldi, GrubHub or gas cards are especially appreciated). All proceeds will go directly to Trooper Clay’s family, who leaves a wife, Meghan, and two young children.

Contributions are also being accepted before the event, via GY6: Support Trooper Clay Carns' Family on GoFundMe.

Meghan Clay is a fitness instructor at FIT4MOM's Palos-Orland, who is described as “one of the kindest, most welcoming individuals, an amazing mom, friend, and instructor.”

“Our hearts are heavy as we think of her and her family during this difficult time,” her colleagues said, who are organizing Sunday’s event. “When the news of Clay’s passing first reached us, so many of you immediately asked, ‘How can we help?’”

For more information, visit Run/Walk in Memory of Clay Carns on Facebook.