Ilyse Strongin-Bombicino 312.285.7702 direct 847.432.6000 office ...

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ilyse Strongin-Bombicino
312.285.7702 direct
847.432.6000 office
ilyse@ripplepublicrelations.com
WEBSITES:
http://bloodybuddy.racebx.com
http://celebratehighwood.com/bloodymaryfest.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
--photography available--
CHALLENGE YOURSELF IN THE BLOODY BUDDY 5K CHALLENGE
KICKING OFF HIGHWOOD’S 3 RD ANNUAL BLOODY MARY FEST, SUNDAY JUNE 24 TH
Proceeds to benefit Huntington’s Disease Society of America
HIGHWOOD, IL (JUNE 24, 2012) – The City of Highwood, Illinois is kicking off its Third Annual
Bloody Mary Fest with a Bloody Buddy 5K Challenge beginning at 9am on Sunday, June 24 th ,
benefitting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Those that are up for the test are encouraged
to grab a buddy and start the day at this fun and invigorating race unlike any typical 5K. Bloody
Buddy partners will work hard as a pair, and relish in the glory at the finish line with a refreshing
Bloody Mary, sponsored by Van Gogh Vodka and Vintage Vine Bloody Mary Mix. The run is also
sponsored by Running Away Multisport and Equinox.
The Bloody Buddy 5K Challenge course will include push ups, calisthenics, the fireman carry, buddy
drag, piggyback carry and the US Army Major General Jimmie J. Wells Challenge consisting of 100
upper body and 100 core exercises, with plenty of running in between!
Bloody Buddies will run the same route as Highwood’s Pumpkin Fest 5K Run; a beautiful scenic route
with mixed terrain through Highwood and Fort Sheridan. The course will start in front of Bent Fork
Bakery, at Walker Avenue and Sheridan Road, and go north into the beautiful grounds of Fort
Sheridan and loop back to the finish/start line. If you don’t have a partner in mind, race organizers will
pair up the singles and no participant will race alone. This race is not about the fastest time, it’s about
putting yourself to the test, having fun, and taking pride in your efforts while working as a team!
2012 marks the 125 th Anniversary for the City of Highwood, and Bloody Mary Fest will kick off the
summer festival season. In addition to the Bloody Buddy 5K Challenge, the festival will have some 40
vendors mixing up specialty Bloody Marys, food, live music, and more. Sponsored by Van Gogh
Vodka and Vintage Vine Bloody Mary Mix, the festival will be held in Everts Park from 10am-5pm on
June 24 th . Bloody Mary Fest also boasts a Bloody Mary challenge that welcomes professionals and
amateurs from all over to compete for the title of the Best Bloody Mary! For more information, please
go to http://celebratehighwood.com/bloodymaryfest.html.
To register for the Bloody Buddy 5K challenge, please go to http://bloodybuddy.racebx.com. There is
a $25 fee to participate, with proceeds going to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Packet

pick-up will be on Saturday, the day before the event, at Running Away Multisport, located at 800
Waukegan Road in Deerfield. Equinox will be hosting before and after stretch sessions for the
participants.
About Huntington’s Disease Society of America
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the largest 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization
dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. Huntington's disease
(HD) is a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder that results in a loss of cognitive,
behavioral and physical control, and for which, presently, there is no cure.
Founded in 1968 by Marjorie Guthrie, wife of folk legend Woody Guthrie who lost his battle with HD,
the Society works tirelessly to provide the community services, education, advocacy and research to
provide Help for today, Hope for tomorrow to the more than 30,000 people diagnosed with HD and the
250,000 at-risk in the United States. Among the catalog of resources made possible by the
organization, HDSA supports 21 Centers of Excellence at major medical facilities throughout the U.S.
including one at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, hosts more than 160 support groups for
people with HD, their families, caregivers and people at-risk, and is the premiere resource on
Huntington’s disease for medical professionals and the general public.
To learn more about Huntington’s disease and to get involved in HDSA, please visit www.hdsa.org or
call 1-800-345-HDSA.
About The City of Highwood
Highwood was founded in 1868 by William Wallace Everts, a Chicago civic leader and world-renown
educator. His concept of a family-based community has endured for more than a century. The beautiful
Everts Park, in the heart of downtown Highwood, has been named in the founder's honor. Benches and
trees in the park celebrate and remember people who, through turbulent times and peaceful ones, built
and sustained the community. Many of Highwood's street names recall Everts' family and friends
whom the founder encouraged to build homes here. Residents of Swedish, Irish, Italian, Latino and
other heritages have since populated the community, each enriching the community through their
cultural traditions.
The Village of Highwood was incorporated in 1887. The name briefly became Village of Fort Sheridan
and then City of Fort Sheridan. In 1904, the community officially became known as the City of
Highwood. Fort Sheridan, a former Army base northeast of the City, has had a profound influence on
Highwood's development, and it continues to do so today as part of its land, incorporated into the City,
nearly doubled Highwood in size. Today, Highwood is blending the past and present with exciting new
plans for its future.
The City of Highwood, IL administrative offices are located at 17 Highwood Avenue
Highwood, Illinois 60040. For more information, please visit http://www.celebratehighwood.com or
http://www.cityofhighwood.com. Tel: 847.432.1924.