Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
August 24, 2018
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Note: Images of Brookfield Zoo’s ZooRunRun for the Animal Care and Conservation Fund may be downloaded below:

Photo Captions- photo credit CZS
ZooRunRun_14.jpg: Brookfield Zoo’s ZooRunRun for the Animal Care and Conservation Fund on Sunday, September 9, begins with a 5k race at 8:30 a.m. and is followed by a 1-mile Kids Dash at 9:30 a.m. Family and friends of participants will be admitted free to cheer on their favorite racer and enjoy the zoo after the event.
ZooRunRun_102.jpg: Brookfield Zoo’s ZooRunRun for the Animal Care and Conservation Fund on Sunday, September 9, features a 1-mile Kids Dash for children ages 4-13.
ZooRunRun_4849.jpg: The course for Brookfield Zoo’s ZooRunRun for the Animal Care and Conservation Fund will take participants through the zoo past many of the animals, including lions, tigers, bison, giraffes, and white pelicans.
ZooRunRun_5096.jpg: Many participants in Brookfield Zoo’s ZooRunRun for the Animal Care and Conservation Fund go wild and dress in animal-themed attire.

Brookfield Zoo’s Annual ZooRunRun Event Features
5K and 1-Mile Kids’ Dash to Benefit the Animal Care and Conservation Fund
 
Brookfield, Ill. – Lace up your running shoes for Brookfield Zoo’s annual ZooRunRun for the Animal Care and Conservation Fund on Sunday, September 9. Proceeds will go towards the fund, which is dedicated to making a difference for species across the globe.

Runners and walkers of all ages are invited to participate in the 5K race presented by Aquafina and Gatorade and sponsored by DuPage Medical Group. Family and friends of participants will be admitted free to cheer on their favorite runner and enjoy the zoo after the race.

The 5K chip-timed race will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. The 1-mile kids’ dash for children ages 4 to 13 will begin at 9:30 a.m. Both races will start in the Discovery Center parking lot and take participants through the zoo past a number of different animal habitats that makes for a wild run unlike anything they’ve experienced before.

Staff and physical therapists from DuPage Medical Group will be onsite the day of the race leading participants in a stretching exercise session prior to the 5k.

Registration for the 5k is $40 plus a $3 sign-up fee, which includes a moisture- wicking t-shirt featuring the 2018 ZooRunRun logo and a timed-bib. The fee for the 1-mile kids’ dash is $20, which also includes a t-shirt featuring the 2018 ZooRunRun logo and a timed-bib. To register, go to www.CZS.org/ZooRunRun.

Awards will be presented at 10:00 a.m. to the first, second, and third place male and female runners in the 5k as well as the top three participants in the 1-mile kids’ dash. In addition, a variety of prizes will be given to randomly-selected participants.

Early packet pickup will be available at the zoo’s north parking lot, located at 8400 31^st Street in Brookfield, on Friday, September 7, between noon and 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 9, between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. prior to the start of the race.

Participants may enter the zoo via the North Gate any time after 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 9, and park in the zoo’s main parking lot at 8400 31^st Street, Brookfield. All participants should proceed to the Discovery Center parking lot to line up for the start of the race. Please note, participants will not be able to access the Discovery Center parking lot by vehicle.
 
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About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by engaging people and communities 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. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located at 8400 31^stStreet in Brookfield, Illinois, 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 CZS.org.