Passion for Life 5K & 5 Mile

Event Summary:
6th Annual Passion for Life 5K and 5 Mile. Event Details:

MISSION

The Passion for Life 5K Run/Walk benefits U of M C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital and the Walled Lake Central Track and Field program.  The Passion for Life 5K Run/Walk is a non-profit organization and was founded in 2008.  The decision to support U of M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital arose in 2008 when a Walled Lake educator and coach recently had given birth to a daughter with heart complications.  Sydnie Guttovz and her family were the first Inspirational Family for our event.  Every year, there will be one family in our community chosen as our Inspirational Family and the proceeds from our event will go towards that family, medical research at U of M Mott Hospital, and our track and field program.

2013 INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY/MOTT HOSPITAL

The goal of the Passion for Life 5K Run/Walk is to raise funds for U of M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.  Every year, the Passion for Life Volunteer Team chooses a family in our community that inspires us to run the event and raise funds and awareness for the illness, disability, or disease that affects that family. 

This will be our sixth year in existence and along with the participants, sponsors, and supporters, the Passion for Life Organization has helped raise over $100,000 for Medical research and our Inspirational Families.  Our previous Inspirational Families include Lilli Shull and the Shull Family, Genika Landry and the Landry Family, Joseph Penrod and the Penrod Family, Sydnie Guttovz and the Guttovz family, and Drew Clayborn and the Clayborn family.

Our Inspirational Families receive $1,000 towards their son/daughter college fund/medical expenses/savings account/etc. and receive $500 every year that the race is running and able to provide such a financial support.

Our Inspirational Family for the 2013 Passion for Life Run is the Pesta Family. Jacob is an eight year old little boy from Commerce Twp, MI.

 On August 4, 2009, Jacob was diagnosed with a very rare, aggressive Thalamic Brain Tumor.  He had just turned 5 years old.  It was the most catastrophic day of their lives and every parent’s worst fear! The family learned of his brain tumor as a result of a fall that caused a concussion to the right side of his head. Jacob’s parents Shelly & Mike believe that this fall was an act of divine intervention: Without it, they may never have learned of the presence of this tumor, as Jake had been asymptomatic. The MRI indicated that Jacob’s right Ventricle was occluded with tumor by 90% and that he was only weeks away from having a life threatening seizure. Jacob has endured two craniotomies’, which resulted in an unequivocal total resection; emergency shunt surgery; Proton beam radiation for 35 days and 126 days of aggressive chemotherapy. While Jacob was hospitalized recovering from his first craniotomy we received the pathology results from the first tumor that was removed. It came back as a grade III. On September 4, 2009 Jacob underwent his second craniotomy to remove the final chunk of tumor that remained in the Thalamus. The operation was completed successfully with no harm to Jake’s brain, and took his chances for overall survival up to between 55 - 60%. At this time, Jacob is currently being treated by doctors at U of M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Jacob is an extremely happy and confident child.  He enjoys music, swimming, movies, riding his quad runner, playing video games, and he LOVES school!! Additionally, he is very thoughtful and kind to others.  He is truly an inspiration to so many people.

LIFE 5K RUN/WALK

The research and care provided by children’s hospitals around the nation must be supported. We are confident that this event will be a great opportunity to involve the community in the healthy exercise of running/walking while supporting the temporary home that C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital is to so many families seeking hope, reassurance, and most importantly, good health for their children.

Race Day, Saturday, March 23rd - Downtown Walled Lake

Registration/Packet Pick-Up will be available on the day of the race from 7-10am in Downtown Walled Lake (In front of Bayside Sports Grille and Bar and pre-registered participants can pick up packets Friday evening at Walled Lake Central High School.)

Bayside: 
142 E. Walled Lake Dr., Walled Lake, MI, 48390 
(Corner of Pontiac Trail and E. Walled Lake Dr.)

8:00-10:00AM    Registration and Packet Pick-Up
10:00AM         Passion for Life 5K Run/Walk
10:00AM         Passion for Life 5 Mile "Run around the Lake"

Race Entry Fees
                                   
Children 12 & Under (in either race)        
$15 (Register online before 3/21 5:00pm)                              
$20 (On Race Day)                                                           
                                                                              
All others for either race (13 & Older)
$30 (Register online before 3/21 5:00pm)                                  
$35 (On Race Day)

RACE FEES INCLUDE OUR NOTORIOUS DRI-FIT SHIRT!!

The 2013 Route

For the past four years, the Passion for life 5K Run has been held in Commerce, MI.  With 800+ Participants last year, the Walled Lake Passion for Life has been relocated to a more scenic route in downtown Walled Lake to accommodate our growing numbers.  The Passion for Life Organization has decided to host a 5K Run/Walk as well as the 5 Mile Run around Walled Lake.  The 2013 Passion for Life 5K Run/Walk expects to far surpass over 800 runners.  The Walled Lake Police Department and the Novi Police Department will be controlling the traffic and road closures throughout the duration of the 5K Run/Wallk  as well as the the 5 Mile around the Lake Run to ensure safety for all runners/walkers.

The 5K Run/Walk Route
The Passion for Life 5K Run/Walk is a very scenic road race that takes you along the beautiful Walled Lake for the entire route.

The 5 Mile Run around the Lake Route
The Passion for Life 5 Mile Run around the Lake begins the same as the 5K Run/Walk for the first 1.55 miles but continues to go around the lake while the 5K Run/Walk participants will turn and head back. Please note that the course can range from 4.95-5.02 miles depending on how "tightly" it is ran on the portions that are sidewalks/roads.

48 awards given to the 5K Run/Walk Participants ($20-$25 gift certificates - restaurants, movie theatre, sports stores) along with the renowned PASSION Dri-Fit shirts

Awards

Awards to Overall Male/Female, Masters (M/F),and top 2 in each age group (M/F).          
                                                      
Age Groups for the 5K Run/Walk     Age Groups for the 5 Mile Run

Overall Champion M/F                  Overall Champion M/F
Masters Champion (40+)M/F       Masters Champion (40+)M/F
14 years and younger                     TBD...
15-19 years of age
20-24 years of age
25-29 years of age
30-34 years of age 
35-39 years of age
40-44 years of age
45-49 years of age
50-54 years of age
55-59 years of age
60+   years of age

All profits from the Passion for Life Run will go towards research at U of M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital for pediatric brain cancer, our inspirational families, and supporting the Passion for Life Non-Profit Organization.

Online Registration closes March 21st 5:00p