The ATI Foundation Metal Walk and 5K Run, Walk & Roll, raised over $72,500 to benefit children with physical impairments. Over 1,100 people participated in the event held June 8 at Harrah’s Casino in downtown Joliet, IL.
This year’s event combined the popular 5K Run, Walk & Roll with the annual Metal Walk. The ATI Foundation Metal Walk is a unique event honoring a specific population of patients who have overcome a challenge: joint replacement. Metal Walkers are not only the recipients, but also support teams of friends and family members who walk with them.
Competitive and casual runners, families, and Metal Walk participants enjoyed the 5K course that traveled through historic downtown Joliet, up to the I & M Canal Trail, then back to the Harrah’s Casino parking lot.
Congratulations to the 5K winners:
Men
1st – Adrion Gomez, of Joliet, IL
2nd – Andre Martinez, of Joliet, IL
3rd – Michael Herlihy, of Joliet, IL
Women
1st – Erin Kennedy, of Wilmington, IL
2nd – Shanna Obluck, of Naperville, IL
3rd – Tracy Ede, of Plainfield, IL
Prior to the race, the ATI Foundation received a very generous donation of $25,000 from Harrah’s Casino Joliet that will help improve the quality of life of many ATI Foundation benficiaries. Participants were also introduced to several ATI Foundation beneficiaries, including last year’s honorary race beneficiary Megan Grygiel, of Shorewood, and this year’s honorary race beneficiary Samantha Garcia, of Montgomery.
After a near-fatal car accident, Samantha sustained a traumatic brain injury and a crushing arm injury. She continues to make remarkable progress and led the Metal Walkers as the official walk starter. Participants were inspired by Samantha, a 16-year old dancer who underwent a knee and partial femur replacement in 2011 due to bone cancer, who proudly finished the full 5K.
Following the race, everyone enjoyed music by The Matz Bros band, kid’s activities, raffles and food. A special thank you to the premier sponsors of the event, Harrah’s Casino and Hinsdale Orthopaedics.
See more photos of the event by "liking" our ATI Facebook page.
The ATI Foundation will host the East Coast Metal Walk and 5K on Saturday, November 9 in Wilmington, DE. For more information about the ATI Foundation and upcoming events please visit www.atifoundation.com