“Community Unites for 2025 Gibbons Run to Benefit Leukemia Research Foundation”

CHICAGO (WLS) — Hundreds of runners, walkers, leukemia supporters and survivors participated in the 31st annual ABC7’s Gibbons Run on Saturday.

The event is named after ABC7 reporter Jim Gibbons, who lost his battle with leukemia in 1994.

The run and walk raises money for the Leukemia Research Foundation.

This year participation was up 25%.

“In these challenging times, it is crucial to show support for organizations like ours,” emphasized Executive Director Kevin Radelet of the Leukemia Research Foundation, stressing the recent difficulties in securing research funding.

The Alden Network has raised more than $11 million over 50 years for the Leukemia Research Foundation.

For the first year, Windy City Wire joined the event to honor their colleague Kimberly DePaola. She lost her battle in December.

Rebecca Komosa expressed how the event provided her with an opportunity to pay tribute to her late son by participating in Team Oliver. Almost a decade has passed since Oliver lost his battle with cancer.

“Oliver has always been a big focus on our family,” Komosa said. “He has always been the one to bring everybody together.”

Leukemia survivor Vanessa Ortiz said she is walking for everybody that is battling.

“It was life changing and scary, to say the least. But I’m still here,” Ortiz said. “The support is everything. The community is everything.”

About the Leukemia Research Foundation

The Leukemia Research Foundation, based in Northfield, Illinois, is dedicated to financing innovative leukemia research on a global scale and offering assistance to individuals impacted by leukemia. Since its establishment in 1946, the foundation has raised over $90 million to advance treatment options and strive for a definitive cure for leukemia. For further details, please visit the Leukemia Research Foundation’s official website at leukemiarf.org.