(Photos by Indermohan Singh Mokha)
Rajinder Singh Mago
CHICAGO: In the spirit of Oneness a 5K Run/Walk, the Sikh Religious Society Palatine Illinois hosted on August 7, 2021 at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in Palatine, a north side suburb of Chicago. This was their 4th Annual Run/Walk event.
More than 300 people had registered for this race and about 200 men and women of all ages participated in person while the rest participated virtually from their own neighborhood parks, which interestingly included families in Canada and one family vacationing overseas in Kosovo.
It was an interfaith “Oneness 5K Run/Walk” that aimed to bring neighborhood communities and different faiths together as one. Many local community members participated to show oneness and solidarity with the Sikh American community.
The guest of honor was Illinois State Senator Ann Gillespie who addressed the participants, kicked off the race and also distributed medals to the participants who finished the race, and special awards to the winners of the 5K race.
The first place winner was Gurshaan Singh Sohi with 23.08 minutes time, the second place winner was Dr. Sutpal Singh with 23.14 minutes and the third place was won by Johann Aakre with 23.25 minutes. The purpose of the event was to promote healthy lifestyle and community building generating solidarity with the interfaith communities and neighbors. Everyone felt so happy about being outside in the fresh air in the forest preserve.
Maheshwar Singh and Maneshwar Singh provided live music and singing for entertainment. Free refreshments were available to all participants.
Keeping the Covid-19 in mind, fully vaccinated participants were encouraged to participate in person and practice hand hygiene, “social distancing” and wear face coverings when in close proximity to reduce the risk. Hand sanitizers were available. All food items at the shelter were individually wrapped. Emergency medical services were provided by Dr. Amrit Singh Anand and Dr. Avnit Singh Kapoor.
Refreshments were provided, courtesy of Bhupinder Singh Dhaliwal, Achhar Singh and Malvinder Singh Virdi. The event organizing committee was led by S.R.S. board member Prempal Singh also the race director, others were as follows. Race manager Lakhwinder Singh, route planners Jasmeet Singh Kahlon and Bhupinder Singh Dhaliwal, finance Supreeta Kapoor, IT services Aman Singh, site décor Jasvir Kaur Singh, Food arrangements Sanover Kaur Sohi, V.I.P. guests arrangements and media Rajinder Singh Mago.
The emcee was Supreeta Kapoor. Dozens of youth volunteers provided help with the details of the event. The volunteer photographer was Indermohan Singh Mokha. The registered participants received a special T-shirt and a healthy snack bag. Water and Gatorade stations were set up on the run/walk route. The participants were asked to write comments about what oneness means to them and also to provide their feedback for improvements next year.
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