THE HIGHWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MIDTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB AND WHOLE FOODS MARKET DEERFIELD ARE PROUD TO HOST THE 4TH ANNUAL 5K PUMPKIN RUN, WALK AND KIDS’ DASH BENEFITING ST. BALDRICK’S

Sunday, October 20th,
9am – raising money for lifesaving pediatric cancer research

HIGHWOOD, IL (OCTOBER
20, 2013) – In its fourth year, the Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest’s 5K Pumpkin Run, Walk and
Kids' Dash will bring some 1,000 participants to town in an effort to raise
awareness and support for the St.
Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to raising money for childhood
cancer research. Kicking off
at 9 a.m. on Sunday, October 20 participants will run and walk from Waukegan
Avenue and Walker, in front of The Bent
Fork Bakery, while passing by more than 30,000 carved pumpkins to celebrate
the season and to raise money and awareness for a great cause. Costumes are welcome! 

Participants are encouraged to register
online for the race and if feeling adventurous, can also sign up for
the St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event on Saturday, October 19 from 3-6 p.m. to
have their head shaved by a team of volunteer stylists to further support the St.
Baldrick’s Foundation. A discount will be offered to those brave enough to
shave their head and race for St. Baldrick’s with an option to raise additional
monies to support their efforts. With
only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric
cancer research, St. Baldrick’s Foundation volunteers, supporters and donors
are needed to continue the battle against this devastating disease. Beginning
October 5, the cost of the race will increase from $35 to $45 for Run/Walk and
from $10 to $15 for the Kids’ Dash. Online run registration will close Saturday,
October 17. Participants can also register at packet pick up times at Midtown
Athletic Club or during Pumpkin Fest at the Midtown Booth or day of race. 

Midtown Athletic Club
is hosting a pumpkin packet pick-up party chock full of festive food and drink
from it’s M Café on October 15 from 4-7 p.m. for all participants at 2211
Waukegan Road. Packet pick-up will also be available the morning of October 16
at Midtown.

Midtown will also offer pick-up at their booth throughout the
Fest and day of registration beginning at 7:30 a.m., as well as high energy
family and youth warm-up activities beginning at 8:30 a.m. and post-race cool
down stretches. Midtown trainers will also be onsite for post-race personal
stretching and massage. Whole
Foods Market will provide all healthy race day goodies for fueling!

The day kicks-off with the Kids’ Dash, roughly 350 meters
long, followed by the 5K run and walk beginning at 9 a.m. sharp. The 5K events
follow a scenic route
with mixed terrain through
Highwood and Fort Sheridan. The course will start in front of Bent Fork Bakery,
at Walker Avenue and Sheridan Road, and go north into the beautiful grounds of
Fort Sheridan and loop back to the finish/start line.  

For more information on the Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest,
please go to www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com,
or call 847.432.6000.

ABOUT ST.
BALDRICK’S FOUNDATION

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity
committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood
cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. St. Baldrick’s coordinates
its signature head-shaving events worldwide where participants collect pledges
to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund
research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $125 million to
support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder
of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some
of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to
younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also
enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric
cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train
researchers to work in developing countries. For more information about the St.
Baldrick’s Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

ABOUT
MIDTOWN ATHLETIC CLUBS

Midtown Athletic Clubs is a leader in the upscale fitness club
and sports resort industry. What began as a single tennis club in Chicago in
1970, Midtown is now comprised of 10 full-service tennis and fitness facilities
throughout the United States and Canada. Locations in Illinois include Chicago,
Bannockburn, Oak Park, Palatine and Willowbrook. Other clubs are operated in
Atlanta, GA; Overland Park, KS; Rochester, NY; Weston, FL and Montreal, QC.
Midtown features a variety of dynamic tennis programs, the latest cardio and
strength training equipment, group fitness classes, personal training and spa
services. The clubs offer a warm, inviting atmosphere and provide a special
place to connect with family, make new friends and get fit. For more
information on Midtown Athletic Club in Bannockburn, call (847) 945-1818 or
visit www.midtown.com. 

ABOUT
WHOLE FOODS MARKET

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com)
is the leading retailer of natural and organic foods and America's first
national “Certified Organic” grocer. In fiscal year 2012, the Company
had sales of approximately $12 billion and currently has 355 stores in the
United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market employs
approximately 76,000 team members and has been ranked for 16 consecutive years
as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by Fortune magazine. 

ABOUT THE HIGHWOOD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Highwood Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting
and improving the business community in Highwood, Illinois. The Chamber
continues to improve the unique and vibrant city through special events,
cultivating new business, and implementing successful business strategies.
Known as a “regional chamber”, Highwood provides businesses from all over
Illinois and Wisconsin with valuable networking opportunities. 2013 marks the
50th anniversary for the Highwood Chamber.