Zoo Run Run features a choice between a 5K chip-timed run and a 5K fun run/walk. Proceeds from the event benefit the Chicago Zoological Society’s Animal Welfare and Conservation Fund, which supports research and education efforts around the world and at Brookfield Zoo, including the Society’s Center for the Science of Animal Welfare and the Center for Conservation Leadership.
“The fund is an important part of the Society’s conservation efforts and we certainly appreciate the efforts of the run’s participants who help raise significant donations,” said Stuart Strahl, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo.
The chip-timed run begins at 8:00 a.m. in the zoo’s Discovery Center parking lot, with the fun run/walk starting at 8:20 a.m. The course takes participants under a forest canopy of 100-year-old oak trees and continues past the American white pelicans at the Formal Pool,; the bison at Great Bear Wilderness; the giraffes, zebras, and camels along 31st Street; the kangaroos at Australia House; and the endangered black rhinos outside Pachyderm House. The final stretch of the run routes participants past the lions, sloth bears, tigers, and snow leopards.
Runners can register as individuals or maximize their fun by forming a race team. The more funds that participants raise for the Animal Welfare and Conservation Fund, the more prizes they win:
Anyone who raises $100 receives a special long-sleeve commemorative Zoo Run Run shirt.
Anyone who raises $250 receives a $25 Brookfield Zoo gift certificate plus the commemorative shirt
Anyone who raises $500 receives an additional $25 Brookfield Zoo gift certificate, a complimentary upgrade on his/her next purchased membership, plus the previous levels’ premiums
Anyone who raises $750 receives a voucher toward a Backstage Adventure experience at Brookfield Zoo, plus the previous levels’ premiums
Anyone who raises $1,000 receives two tickets to the Chicago Zoological Society’s Wines in the Wild, held on Saturday, October 18, 2014, plus the previous levels’ premiums
The top fundraiser for Zoo Run Run will receive a VIP Red Carpet Day of experiences at Brookfield Zoo, plus the previous levels’ premiums
In addition to individual fundraising prizes, teams are eligible to win prizes. Each team that raises $2,500 or more will receive a private reception for 20 that includes a unique animal experience at Brookfield Zoo. All members of teams are eligible to win the individual prizes listed above as well.
Registration for the chip-timed race is $35, and the fee for the fun run/walk is $30. (Members can enter a promo code to receive $5 off their pricing.) For participants who register on the event day, the fee is $40 for the chip-timed race and $35 for the fun run/walk (there is no member discount on race day). In addition, registered participants may bring family and friends to cheer them on and enjoy the zoo afterwards at no additional charge.
Zoo Run Run is presented by Walgreens, Aquafina, and Gatorade. Details of race packet pickup will be announced closer to the race date. For further information and to register as an individual or a team, go to CZS.org/ZooRunRun.
The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, inspires conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service. For further information, visit www.CZS.org.
