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20th Anniversary Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk Draws Over 400 Participants and Volunteers!

20th Anniversary Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk Draws Over 400 Participants and Volunteers!

This year District 30 will have two Lew Blond Run fundraisers for ALS research, high school scholarships, and school projects. The 20th Anniversary Lew Blond Run was held Saturday, October 16; and the second race of the school year will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022. lewblondrun.org

Northbrook Herald 20th Lew Blond Run Article

20th Anniversary Lew Blond Run Race Results

At the Lew Blond Run, Everyone is a Winner!

"I won!" exclaimed Josie Kurtz, as she crossed the Lew Blond Run finish line at the 1 Mile Run this morning at Wescott School.

The bright blue-eyed preschooler is the adorable daughter of Maple School Principal and Lew Blond Run Executive Committee Chair, Sam Kurtz, who was "overjoyed" to see 400 participants at the 20th Annual Lew Blond Run fundraiser on October 16.

It appeared that Josie and everyone who participated in this fundraiser was a winner, and that was because of a very dedicated team of District 30 leaders, staff, and volunteers who give over 100 percent of their energy to the Lew Blond Run each year.

Pictured below are some of these individuals who emanate excellence in all they do every day: Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley, Maple School Principal/Lew Blond Run Executive Committee Chair, Sam Kurtz, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Dale Falk, Maple School Assistant Principal/Lew Blond Run Executive Committee Co-chair, Betty Holzkopf, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Melissa "Missy" Hirsch, Maple Administrative Assistant/Lew Blond Executive Committee Secretary, Nancy Lifshitz, Director of Educational Technology, Dr. Andrew Kohl, Lew Blond Run Executive Committee Financial Director, Michelle Rosen, Lew Blond Run Executive Committee Race Director, Greg Itahara, and Director of Student Services, Lauren Schulman.

After postponing the 20th Anniversary event last year due to the challenges presented by COVID, the committee decided to hold this October 16 race and will hold another race next spring, on May 21 at Wescott School.

"I am extremely proud to be a part of the District 30 Family! Today's Lew Blond Run demonstrated our care, perseverance, and togetherness!  A big 'shout out' to Maple School Principals Sam Kurtz and Betty Holzkopf, and the entire Lew Blond Committee!" stated Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Brian Wegley.

The Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Run (Lew Blond Run) is held to honor Lew Blond, a Maple School teacher who passed away from Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) in February 2000. He was an exceptional and dedicated educator of the applied arts and was revered and cherished by his students, his colleagues, and the parents of the children he served. Lew Blond's family has attended and helped support this race since its inception.

When Northbrook/School District 30’s beloved applied technology teacher Lew Blond was diagnosed with ALS in the late 1990s, everyone rallied around him and his family, providing support on all levels. After he died, the first Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Run was initiated and organized in 2000 by District 30 administrators, board members, faculty, and community volunteers.

For 19 years, the majority of the Lew Blond Run proceeds have been donated continuously to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, to help support research for Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and the Stuart Rosen Transportation Fund. Funds have also been used to support scholarships at District #225 high schools and to fund special school projects at Maple, Wescott and Willowbrook Schools.

"The success of this event is due to a dedicated community, sponsors, staff members, and volunteers that have made the Lew Blond Run a fixture in Northbrook and Glenview. There are not as many people these days who knew Lew Blond, but it is this race that has kept his memory alive for 20 years,” said Sam Kurtz, Maple School Principal and Executive Director of the Lew Blond Run. 

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Brian K. Wegley said, "Lew Blond's memory lives on in our Northbrook/Glenview communities because of the many people and sponsors who care and give their support, time, and energy to the Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk."

The Lew Blond Run Executive Committee is grateful and appreciative of the support of its wonderful 2021 sponsors: The Dolins, Group, Whitehall of Deerfield, Itahara Custom Design, GNCY, Nicholas and Associates, PFCU Partnership Financial Credit Union, ARCON, BIX Hydration, Heartbreak Hill Running Company, Glenview State Bank, QuestFood, ALS Les Turner, Above and Beyond Entertainment, Baird & Warner, Blond Family, Fastsigns of Northbrook, Grill House, Holzkopf Family, Kirkland and Ellis LLP, Kurtz Family, Sher Family, Superior Optical, Wegley Family, Wildfire Glenview, and Willowbrook PTO!

For sponsorship or more information, contact Sam Kurtz at skurtz@district30.org

Check out photos of the Lew Blond Run on the Lew Blond Run Facebook or District 30 Facebook pages!

Thank you for your support!