Growth of Charity Races Benefits Runners, Nonprofits Alike

With his 70th birthday approaching, Chicago resident Chuck Aron was eager for a challenge. An avid runner who has competed in the Chicago Marathon since 2004, Aron wanted to honor his late brother-in-law Paul Bracken, who died in 2001 after a battle with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Bracken would have turned 73 this year, so Aron decided to run 73 races this spring, summer and fall while raising money for the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Illinois Chapter.

Aron has had no shortage of charity runs and races from which to choose. Dozens are held throughout the Chicagoland area on any given weekend between early spring and late fall.