Seventh Annual Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate Has Record Participation

by Paul Harris-Hertel

A record number or runners participated iin this year’s Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate. All Race Against Hate. p
Photos courtesy of the Evanston/North Shore YWCA

More runners participated in this year's Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate. More than 1,800 people competed in the five- kilometer run/walk, an increase of more than 300 people over last year's event.  In addition, gross proceeds from the race exceeded $100,000, also the highest in the race's seven-year history.

Karen Singer, YWCA executive director, and Sherialyn Byrdsong at the June 18 race.

"It feels great," said Sherialyn Byrdsong, wife of the late Ricky Byrdsong and founder of the Ricky Byrdsong Foundation.  "It's a tribute to the YWCA [Evanston/North Shore].  They did a great job organizing the race."

The race benefited the Byrdsong Foundation for the first five years.  Last year, however, the YWCA Evanston/North Shore became a co-sponsor, and this year all of the proceeds will go directly toward YWCA anti-violence and anti-racism programs.

"The YWCA is a very professional and passionate group of women," Sherialyn Byrdsong said, explaining why she asked the YWCA to become involved with the event.  "Their mission of eliminating racism is very close to the mission of the Race Against Hate."

Addie Goodman, development director at the YWCA Evanston/North Shore, said profits "will go toward violence-prevention programs in elementary schools, with a focus on tolerance and hate-crime prevention."

Ms. Goodman added that the Ricky Byrdsong Foundation will always be involved in the Race Against Hate, even though profits went to the YWCA.

Ricky Byrdsong was the Northwestern University men's basketball coach for four years, from 1993-97.  In his first season, he led the Wildcats to the National Invitational Tournament, which was just the second post-season appearance in the history of the school's basketball program.  He was also a vice-president at Aon Corporation, where he worked developing programs to help underprivileged youth.  Byrdsong was shot and killed near his home in Skokie during a racially motivated shooting spree in the summer of 1999.  In 2000 the race was started to commemorate and honor his legacy, as well as to combat the hatred that led to the taking of his life. 

"[This time of year] is a time when I'm forced to remember and cherish the positive memories of his legacy," Ms.  Byrdsong said of the anniversary of her late husband's death.  "As the years go by, the work he did to help people becomes more and more meaningful."

Top finishers in the men's, women's, and children's 5K race
The top three overall men finishers in the 5K race were Chicagoans Jacek Kafel, who finished in 14:59 minutes flat, and Emisael Favela and Jordan Horwitz of Evanston.  The top three overall women finishers in the 5K race were Colleen Newhart of Oak Park, 17:41, Jessica Winter of Wheaton, 18:08, and Kathleen Manning of Evanston, 18:49. The top male over-40 (master) finisher was Keith Bruch of Glenview, while Kara Pellaton of Evanston was the top female over-40 (master) finisher, 20:42.  Bruch was sixth overall in the 5K race.  Pellaton was 52nd. 
The top three boys (14 and under) were Kenny Horwat, 20:17, Max Behles, 20:51, and George Sereika, 21:26, all of Evanston.  Horwat came in 49th overall with a time of 20:17.  The top three girls (14 and under) were Julie Egofske, 23:31, of Evanston, who came in second at 166th overall,  Jadie Oldfield of Skokie, 23:21 and Stephanie Wynn of Wilmette, 23:37.

The 2006 Evanston RoundTable Astros

The regular season ended June 21  with the RoundTable Astros  in first place out of 11 teams in the girls 5th- and 6th-grade ponytail division of the Evanston Baseball and Softball Association. The playoffs begin Friday night, with the Astros having a bye on Friday and playing on Saturday at 9 p.m. in Morton Grove at Harrer Park. In the first round, the  Astros beat the Skokie Thunder 19-8. They  then went on to beat the Morton Grove Reds 11-8 and again 14-11.  Pictured left to right, from the back row: Grace Patino, Paula Savoy, Katie Bertsche, Aja Klevs, Emma Schmahl, Bea Kruger, Tess Proctor, Annika Erixson, Sarah Berlyn. Front row: Bayley White, Madeline Walsh, Miranda Reinberg, Maddie Jaffe, Jackie Donohue, Sarah Starr.

Local Karate Students Head to Nationals

By Paul Harris-Hertel

Evanstonian Maggie Bambic  (Row 2, second from right) and team are competing at the AAU Nationals  June 27-30.

This week, 13 karate students, including Evanstonian Maggie Bambic, 8,  and two instructors from the Elite Martial Arts dojo in Skokie will travel to Miami for the AAU Nationals competition. The competition  concludes Sunday with tryouts for the national team. 

The students, who range in age from 6 to 22, have been preparing for nationals for the past seven months, competing in the AAU registration, state and regional tournaments.  The top eight from each of those tournaments move on to the next round.

For Elite Martial Arts sensei John Fonseca, the trip to the national will be nothing new.  Since opening the dojo three years ago, Fonseca has taken students to nationals every year.  Last year he took 12 students who came home with 18 medals.  This year Fonseca expects his pupils to be successful yet again.  Even more important to him, however, is that they enjoy themselves and learn from and build on what they accomplish.

"I expect them to do very well, but above all [I want them] to have a positive experience," said Fonseca.  "Every competition is a learning experience.  I always tell my students to enjoy it and try their best."

The lucky 13 will perform in three different events: kata (forms), kobudo (weapons), and kumite (sparring). "Kata is a pre-arranged routine with about 25 different forms," explained Fonseca. 

Kobudo is also a pre-arranged routine performed with a wooden bo staff.  Like  kata  it is an individual event, while kumite involves combat between two competitors. Kumite competitors receive points for technique and for hitting the target areas on the opponent's body.

 

Soccer Tournament Benefits Cancer Foundation for Kids

By Paul Harris-Hertel

The fourth annual Kicks 4 Cancer 3-on-3 soccer tournament for kids 8-15 years old will take place on July 8 at Olympic Park in Schaumburg.

Tournament directors Ryan Bradley and Paul Broderick, who, with their families, both moved to Evanston in the last few years, say that proceeds this year will benefit the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, rather than the American Cancer Society, which has benefited in the past. Bear Necessities, according to its website, is "dedicated to "eliminating pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it."

The tournament is sponsored by Carry On, Inc., a non-profit organization focused that focuses on fundraising for cancer research and cancer-related charities. The soccer tournament is the organization's "primary fundraising event by far," says Mr. Bradley, the president and CEO of Carry On, Inc. He has been head of the tournament for all four years it has run.

"My friend and I had each lost a parent to cancer and we decided we wanted raise funds to fight [the disease]," said Bradley.  "We'd played soccer together in high school, so we recruited a couple of friends who were high school teammates of ours and put together Kicks 4 Cancer."

Mr. Bradley says that several teams from Evanston have already signed up, among them two under-10 girls teams, and more Evanstonians have expressed interest.

"One of the great things about Evanston," said Mr. Bradley, "is that we've been able to generate interest locally in Bare Necessities … [people] who want to get behind the cause. This is a breath of fresh air to Paul and myself, having been doing this for four years; people in Evanston have been a great help."

Mr. Bradley expects "anywhere from 32 to 64 teams" over all. This means that every team is guaranteed a minimum of three games. Teams will be divided into age groups, with a boys and girls bracket for each group (coed teams play in the boys bracket).

Founded in 1992 by Kathleen Casey of Chicago, Bear Necessities is named in honor of Casey's late son Barrett "Bear" Krupa. Bear passed away from Wilms Tumor, a pediatric cancer, in January 1993. The foundation's Small Miracle Program provides supportive services to families of pediatric cancer patients and also does something special, such as grant a wish, for the patient.  Bear Necessities also provides funding for grants to researchers who study pediatric cancers, as well as grants to blood and bone marrow banks.

Registration for Kicks 4 Cancer soccer tournament is still open. Teams can have up to five players, but games will be played without goalies. Every team member must bring proof of age. For more information on team registration and tournament rules, visit kicks4cancer.org.