The first annual Pink Hat Run, Walk and Roll helped to raise more than $7,000 for area women-related charities Saturday, even though the event had to be cancelled due to area lightning strikes and heavy rains that flooded lakefront viaducts.
The 5K/1 mile run, walk and roll was held on Prairie Avenue outside of the Women's Park & Gardens in Chicago's South Loop. The grand marshals were Ald. Pat Dowell and Rep. Juliana Stratton, who represent that area of the city. DJ Sandra Suave kept the drenched participants moving as organizers determined what the safest decision was for the day.
Pink Hat Run Chicago's 2017 beneficiaries were Access Living, Chicago Foundation for Women ( CFW ), Chicago Women Take Action ( CWTA ), Chicago Women's AIDS Project, Fierce Over 40, League of Women Voters - Chicago, Moms Demand Action Chicago, Mujeres Latinas en AcciÃ"n, Chicago National Organization for Women, Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, Personal PAC, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, A Sister's Hope, Women's March on Chicago and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago.
Donations can still be made, through Nov. 30, at www.pinkhatrun.com/contribute-to-beneficiaries/ .