Parks Department, RML Hospital Team Up on Earth Day 5K Run

and the Parks and Recreation Department are bringing a new 5K run to Hinsdale on Earth Day 2012.

will be the starting point of the “Healthy Parks, Healthy Patients” 5K Run-Walk on April 22, 2012. Jennifer Price, RML's manager of philanthropy services, said proceeds will be split between the hospital and the parks deparmtnet, and hopes the event will bring together attendees of different levels.

“We’re looking to really put together this great race event that serves runners that are competitive,” Price said, “but at the same time have the really fun family environment.”

Microchips will be available to those runners who want their official time.

According to Gina Hassett, Hinsdale's director of parks and recreation, the race's route is not confirmed, but will likely cross over County Line Road out of KLM and head west into Hinsdale.

Hassett said she hopes to bring in over 500 runners for the inaugural 3.1-mile race in 2012 and more in future years.

"There’s a lot of logistics that go into it," Hassett said. "You hope for a minium but there's obviously the idea that we would grow."

KLM is a regional park, Hassett said, that's surrounded by Burr Ridge and oftentimes isn't thought of as a Hinsdale park. She hopes the race will help change that.

"We're making Hinsdaleans aware it’s out there and worth a drive," Hassett said. 

Runners and walkers in next year's 5K race can perform individual or team fundraising, though it’s not required, Hassett said. Awards will go to the top male runner and female runner as well as the participants who raised the most money.

According to Hassett, parks department proceeds from the race could go toward establishing a parks foundation, which could fund the department's capital projects with money separate from the village as a whole.

"The idea is that [5K] funds would be our very first funds to benefit our parks foundation," Hassett said.

RML came to the village with the idea of cooperating on the rice, Hasset said; Price said the partnership between RML and the village has helped the Earth Day race develop.

“I’m always looking for ways for organizations to collaborate,” Price said. “I don’t think any of us should be out there trying to recreate the wheel.”

The event is early on in its planning and is in need of volunteers, Price said. On May 18, a volunteer kick-off event will be held at the Lodge at KLM. From there, committees will be organized that will oversee different tasks such as recruitment, sponsorship, logistics, parking and entertainment.

“Committee members will be working in their committee to plan the event for us and execute our vision,” Price said.

RML, according to Price, is long-term care hospital for the “extremely sick.” It provides intensive care for patients that come from other area hospitals. The average stay of a patient at RML is 31 days, Price said, and 65 to 70 percent of the hospital’s patients are on ventilators.