Event Details

Week to Remember

September 21 – September 27, 2020

Registration includes participation in the virtual Walk and/or 5K Run, a week of virtual activities for all ages, as well as an in-person Drive to Remember on September 27 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at 2100 Half Day Rd in Bannockburn, IL.

WALK

Enjoy a peaceful walk with immediate family or socially distanced friends at a location of your choice. Check out one of our suggestions below!

RUN

Run in the annual Willow House 5K! Create a team or run by yourself at a location of your choice during the week of September 21st!

DRIVE

Join us for an opportunity to safely come together in-person to celebrate and remember loved ones who have died.

Sign up now!

Create a Memory Marker

Memory Markers are a unique way to honor and remember family and friends who have died. Markers will be featured along the memorial Drive to Remember path on September 27th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.

Memory markers are available for free this year. To create your own marker, pick one up from our office, decorate, and return it by Wednesday, September 23 to be featured along the memorial Drive to Remember path. Or, select “Order a Custom Marker” with your registration and Willow House can create one for you for $25. Also – stay tuned for a collaborative marker decorating virtual event!

Markers can include a photo, quote, and/or a special message. Honor your loved one with photos and decorations of some of their favorite things or create an inspirational message for a participant.

Please contact us at [email protected] or call (847) 236-9300 with any questions.

Event Tips

Willow House has put together a few suggestions for participating this year. Be sure to partake in our new virtual activities throughout the week, culminating in the Drive to Remember!

FUNDRAISE

For over 22 years, Willow House has provided life-changing, free services to children, families, schools, and communities coping with grief and the loss of a loved one. Now more than ever, the need for Willow House is great. Each day we are called into action, and each day Willow House is there. To ensure we have the ability to continue our unique support groups, art therapy groups, school groups, and community services without interruption, we rely on the support of people like you – people who help us make a difference in the lives of others.

If you are running or walking virtually, it is easy to create your own fundraising page and send the exciting news to friends, family, and co-workers. It’s fast and effective, and all virtual! Click – register – share the word – and have friends donate on your behalf…all for a most important cause!

And remember, each donation is tax-deductible, so let’s all spread the word and give generously. No donation is too large or small, and each makes an important difference in the lives of others. Thank you!

LOCATION SUGGESTIONS

What is a 5K? Technically, a 5k is 3.1 miles. What does that look like?

It can be 35 times around a high school or community track, it can be a stroll through your neighborhood…8 blocks equals 1 mile! It can be once around the pond at Independence Grove, or your local forest preserve, or how about an enchanting walk through the Botanic Gardens? Or how about a walking tour of Lincoln Park, the Zoo, or Lamb’s Farm?

For some, a 5k may simply be 60 laps around their backyard patio or apartment balcony… be creative!

Do what moves you and have fun! Post photos using the hashtag #WeekToRemember! Prizes will be awarded to the most creative 5k venue we see!

CREATE A TEAM

Team, the name given to people and kindred spirits that come together as one in order to achieve a common goal. Willow House is all about teamwork and people coming together to help others…so why not grab your friends, family and co-workers and register for our Week to Remember?

What a great way to make new connections while helping to bring much-needed services to those in need! Plus, walking or running a 5k is a lot easier when you divide it up among friends! So please consider inviting 2-10 of your favorites, and register today! Great things happen when we work together!

VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES

Week to Remember is just that…a week! So, while we look forward to your participation in our fun 5k Run or Walk, we are also excited to offer some uniquely entertaining daily activities – all included free of charge with your registration!

We will begin the week with a virtual fitness class to get you moving and grooving and ready to run or walk!

Next up is a family-friendly art night…making memory markers to honor a loved one, or just a colorfully creative poster to enjoy. A featured speaker presentation provides food for thought… And how about a night of entertainment to pick you up and lend a smile.

All in all, a fun week is in store, so please don’t delay, register today!

DRIVE TO REMEMBER

When the walks, runs and activities are done, Willow House invites you to join us for our first ever “Drive to Remember”. Set against the picturesque backdrop of North Shore Unitarian Church in Bannockburn. This free event is open to all, and paints a beautiful picture of the resilience of Willow House families.

Drive through the winding, tree-lined path and view a beautiful array of memory markers – images created by participants in honor of their lost loved ones. And if making a memory marker is not your style, we encourage participants to decorate their cars instead! Or do both! Celebrate your memories and share their beauty with all who travel the same path. Together, we will make a positive difference in the lives of many while remembering those who are special to us.

GET INVOLVED

Great events and important causes are so hard to find, so when you find one, what’s the best thing you can do??? You can share it!

That’s exactly what we are hoping you do with Willow House’s Week to Remember. Post to your Facebook, Instagram, Tweet about it, Snap it, LinkedIn the word and TikTok about it to friends and family. Be sure to use the hashtags:

#WeekToRemember #WillowHouse

Help us spread the word so that every child, family, school and community that is coping with grief and the loss of a loved one is able to receive the Willow House service they need. Each dollar raised supports life-enhancing programming, so please help us spread the word and increase the support. If we all talk about it, great things will happen!

FUNDRAISING AND VIRTUAL 5K PRIZES

We’re giving away a number of great prizes! There are several ways to participate and enter for your chance to win (all participants must be registered and/or have their own fundraising page to win):

Fundraising Prizes Top Individual Fundraiser Award– Create your own fundraising page by clicking the button below.
– The top individual fundraiser will win a prize valued between $175-$200!

Fundraisers Over $200– Create your own fundraising page by clicking the button below.
– Individuals who raise a minimum of $200 will receive a limited edition Willow House Week to Remember t-shirt.

5K Virtual Run/Walk Prizes Social Media Drawing– To enter, participant must be registered for the event and post a picture on social media using one of these hashtags – #weektoremember2020 #willowhousewtr #willowhouseweektoremember2020
Example ideas for pictures: Post a selfie while running/walking, post a picture of your running/walking path, post a picture in your silliest workout attire!
Three (3) winners will be chosen at random and will win a prize valued at $50

Track & Share Your Run/Walk– To enter, participant must be registered for the event. Please use your favorite fitness app (Fitbit, Nike, Map my Run) and snap a screenshot of your completed walk or run during the event week (September 21-27). You can upload to social media using the hashtags #weektoremember2020 #willowhousewtr or submit your screenshot here.
– One (1) winner will be chosen at random and will win a prize valued at $50

We can’t wait to see all the creative images and mileage your teams submit!