Annie Ryan Fun Run and 5-K Turns 13 on May 20

Every year, thousands of children and adults line the streets of Elmhurst for the Annie Ryan 5-K run and 1-mile fun run for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

This year's run, on Sunday, May 20, marks the event's 13th year.

Annie Marie Ryan was born Aug. 10, 1984, the youngest child of former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan and his wife, Marie. Annie died from a brain tumor in January 1997 when she was just 12 years old. The Ryans, of Elmhurst, started the run to help them heal and to try to help other children with brain tumors.

To date, the race has raised more than $500,000 for advancements in treating pediatric brain tumors, the number one cause of childhood cancer-related deaths.

Registration is going on now online at www.annieryan.com, and early in-person registration is from noon to 4 p.m. this Saturday, May 12, at Knights of Columbus, 537 S. York. Participants also can registration at , 124 N. York, May 14  to 18. The  1-mile dash is $12 per child, and the 5-K is $25 in advance or $30 for day of registration.

Donations go directly to the Midwest Children’s Brain Tumor Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

“We have raised $550,000 to date,” said Peggy Ryan Noldan, Annie’s aunt. “This year we expect a great turnout. New this year, the first five boy and the first five girl finishers in kindergarten through eighth grade will be recognized."

The first-place boy and girl finishers will each receive medals, and the first-place female and male 5-K runners will get a $250 prize.

Thanks to funds raised, the MCBTC offers breakthrough medical advances, including the use of an oral preparation called aminoleveulinic acid. Patients ingest a dye prior to surgery, tumors absorb the dye and a surgeon’s special fluorescent light illuminates the tumor, enhancing the surgeon’s ability to achieve a complete resection.

This year's run will kick off at 9 a.m. sharp on May 20, beginning at York Road and South Street.