The 2nd annual Chris Craig 5K Run/Walk to benefit Mahomet-Seymour High School and the Carle Cancer Center will take place on Saturday at Elks Lodge of Lake of the Woods at 8:30 a.m.
“It’s what he wanted,” said Craig’s sister Darlia Orton. “When he was sick and going through the process, he said, ‘I want to pay it forward. I want my name out there. I want to raise awareness about kidney cancer.’”
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The 1996 Mahomet-Seymour graduate, Craig passed away from kidney cancer on April 10, 2012. Craig played football and founded Main Street Fencing with his business partner Luke Turner.
“The community was important to him,” Orton said.
With approximately 300 participants, the Chris Craig 5K Run/Walk raised a little over $7,000 last year. Alongside an auction, the Chris Craig organization raised nearly $25,000.
They donated $25,000 to the Carle Cancer Center. They also provided scholarship money to two Mahomet-Seymour seniors in the Ag or Technology program.
Craig played on the football team and was a FFA member as a student at MSHS.
The money raised this year will go to scholarships, weight room updates and the Carle Cancer Center.
With sponsorship to cover the initial costs of the race from ReMax, Main Street Fencing, Bankco Overhead Doors and Midland State Bank, nearly 100% of the money raised goes back into the Mahomet community.
Instead of an auction, the organizing group has put together raffle items this year.
The race, which runs the same course as the Mahomet Public Library 5K route, is described as a family-friendly run/walk. Runners will not be officially timed, but timers will be available for participants who want to know their time.
Preregistration is available through chriscraig.org. Registration is also available the day of the race.
“He was just a gentle giant,” Orton said of the 6’2” brother. “He was hilarious and would do anything for you. I looked up to him. He always had a presence.”
This year’s raffle items include:
