Under the bright, blue skies morning of June 28, Proud to Run held its annual 5/10K run and 5K walk at Montrose Grove just west of Montrose Beach with the message “Love Right Now.”
The race began in 1982 with 40 runners and walkers who gathered at Foster Avenue Beach to do a 10K run and one-mile walk. Since that time, Proud to Run has raised approximately $700,000 for multiple Chicagoland LGBTQ+ and allied organizations. This year’s beneficiaries are Youth Empowerment Performance Project (YEPP) and Trans Up Front Illinois (TUF IL).
Proud to Run Board Member Patti Flynn said it was important for her to stay involved with the organization for all these years to make sure it didn’t die. She added that since the COVID-19 pandemic began Proud to Run has gone through “some rough patches.” But Flynn added that this year there were more than double the number of participants than in 2024. Her goal is to increase those numbers and attract more sponsors so that Proud to Run can help other organizations financially through this race in the years to come.
Ahead of the race, the queer running group Out There led a lively warm-up session for the approximately 1,000 runner and walker participants. DJ Peter Canellis from Running With The Beat spun tunes prior to and throughout the race.
Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (14th District) and Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th Ward) blew horns to start the race and held a banner for the first person to break through as they crossed the finish line.
WGN-TV News Reporter Mike Lowe served as the event emcee. He spoke about the history of Proud to Run and reminded everyone what was in the news in 1982 when Proud to Run was launched.
Lowe said he was honored to be at such a diverse event where everyone is celebrated and important queer/trans organizations like YEPP and TUF IL are helped financially.
He spoke about the attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by the Trump Administration, including the erasure of the queer/trans community from government websites, the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk and the previous day’s anti-LGBTQ+ Mahmoud v. Taylor Supreme Court 6-3 ruling that allows parents to opt out of school lessons featuring queer/trans people and their history. He noted that Ald. Angela Clay (46th Ward) was also in attendance.
Manaa-Hoppenworth said her ward is “the gayest part of Chicago” and added that she appreciated everyone who came together for this event during a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack. She praised the Proud to Run team and participants for helping people who utilize the services that YEPP and TUF IL provide to the community. Manaa-Hoppenworth also asked for a moment of silence to honor the late former Proud to Run board member Curtis Tom and Elise Malary and others who have died due to transfemicide.
Cassidy said her district is “the queerest district in the state.” She added that what the LGBTQ+ community is up against isn’t pretty.
“This weekend is about remembering our strength and our resilience and when they come for us, we fight back,” said Cassidy. “There are a lot of fights, and it can feel really overwhelming.”
Cassidy added that everyone needs to pick one or two things to focus on in their fight against anti-LGBTQ+ forces in America to make the best use of their time.
“Because we are working together united in our belief that we will prevail,” said Cassidy. “We always have, and we always will. We have to stand with each other and for each other … That is how we are going to get to victory and reestablish justice for everybody in this country.”
Cassidy said she is loves to live in a state that is safe, where she has worked, alongside her fellow Democratic assembly members in both chambers, to shield Illinois with laws that protect all marginalized communities and people who can get pregnant.
“It sucks that our siblings in other states don’t have that,” said Cassidy. “I pledge to do everything in my power to flip those states back to side of justice, equality and safety for our families. I ask you to join me. Please stand for your fellow trans siblings. You don’t get to take your wedding cake and go home. We have to be a family and push back. We will not throw any of our siblings under anybody’s bus and any politician who suggests otherwise can step the fuck off … Remember, the first Pride was a riot, and we have to get back to those roots.”
TUF IL Executive Director Asher McMaher spoke about the outreach efforts their organization does for trans and gender nonconforming individuals ages 4-25 and their support systems across the state of Illinois. They added that their organization is fully volunteer run and does this work free of charge.
YEPP Executive Director Erika Latines said that YEPP helps end LGBTQ+ youth homelessness via restorative and transformative justice, harm reduction and other outreach efforts. They added that YEPP works to help queer/trans people survive and then thrive in their new dwellings.
Lowe also announced the gold, silver and bronze medal 5K and 10K run winners in three categories—female, nonbinary and male.
Cassidy and Flynn handed out the 5K medals and Flynn handed out the 10K medals (Cassidy had to leave early for another engagement).
The 5K female winners were Alanna Dwight (gold), Jaimie Phelan (silver) and Paige Kupfer (bronze); the 5K nonbinary winners were Emerald Svienty (gold), Ace Porter (silver) and Jax Whitehead (bronze) and the 5K male winners were Chris Panepinto (gold), Stephen Plazak (silver) and Scott Bartuska (bronze).
Svienty also ran the fastest time (17:30) out of all the gold medal 5K winners.
The 10K female winners were Vanessa Righeimer (gold), Leah Wellman (silver) and Claire Krummenacher (bronze); the 10K nonbinary winners were Adrian Wiley (gold), Morgan Wiley (silver) and Amelia Gutfeldt (bronze) and the 10K male winners were Andrew Redston (gold), Nick Quigley (silver) and Jeevan Phadke (bronze).
Redstone also ran the fastest time (37:43) out of all the gold medal 10K winners.
