Southsiders run with Irish Olympian Sonia O'Sullivan

About two dozen southside running enthusiasts showed up at Open Outcry on Thursday, June 27, 2019 to run and talk with Irish Olympian and 5000-meter World Champion Sonia O’Sullivan. The event, put on by Research A Cure and Running Excels, started with a two-mile run around Morgan Park and Beverly, and ended with a candid conversation with O’Sullivan, who shared her running tips and motivations with the group of teens and adults.

O’Sullivan was in Chicago to announce the launch of the inaugural Chicago Great Pink Run with Glanbia, which will raise funds for Research A Cure, a Chicago-based nonprofit established to raise funds for collaborative breast cancer research between leading U.S. and Irish centers of excellence with the goal of changing the landscape of breast cancer treatment into the future and transforming breast cancer from often being a fatal disease into a long-term, treatable illness. All proceeds from the 2019 Great Pink Run Chicago have been earmarked to support an international breast cancer research program between experts at the University of Chicago Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research and leading global breast cancer researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. These researchers are searching for targeted approaches to inhibit the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body. In the U.S., 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Current statistics indicate that nearly 30% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will develop metastatic disease, making this research incredibly important in improving lifespans and quality of life.

The Great Pink Run with Glanbia will take place Oct. 5, 2019 at Diversey Harbor. All ages are encouraged to dress in their most outrageous pink outfits as they participate in either the family-friendly 5K walk/jog/run or the CARA-certified 10K. Participants will receive a t-shirt, runners’ bib, finisher’s medal and goody bag, and enjoy a post-run Pink Festival.

Early bird registration is now open at www.GreatPinkRun.com.