Loyola Medicine 5k t-shirt

MAYWOOD, IL – The Loyola Medicine 5k to Support Pediatric Care and Research will return in-person June 17 at Brookfield Zoo for the first time since 2019. The event strives to make a difference in the lives of Loyola's youngest patients by fundraising for the department of pediatrics.

“We are thrilled that this year's 5K will be back at the Brookfield Zoo," said Jerold M. Stirling, MD, chair of the Loyola Medicine department of pediatrics. “As always, this event is a fun and active way for individuals and families to show their support for the pediatric programs and children receiving care at Loyola Medicine.”

To date, the annual Loyola Medicine 5K has raised more than $1.1M to benefit pediatric programs at Loyola, including a 98-bed, full-service children's hospital. The hospital-within-a-hospital consists of:

Fundraising for the 5K has also supported Loyola Medicine's child-life program, which strives to promote optimal development of children and adolescents, assist families in maintaining a normal living pattern and minimize the psychological stress that often comes with hospitalization. As part of an integrated treatment team, the child-life program provides opportunities for a child to gain a sense of mastery through play, continue on the path of learning and boost their spirit and self-esteem through self-expression. It aims to help children identify and address specific fears or misconceptions about their healthcare using proven tools and coping strategies, such as animal-assisted therapy, music and art projects and play therapy.

Registration is now open at LoyolaMedicine5K.org. The cost is $55 for the timed run, $45 for the 5K walk and $30 for kids walk ages 4-11. Registration includes all day access to the Brookfield Zoo and a fun-animal themed t-shirt. The event will begin with runners at 7:30 a.m. and walkers at 8 a.m.

About Loyola Medicine

Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial HospitalMacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke centertransplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.   

For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).

About Trinity Health

Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).