Chicagoans and suburbanites eager to make big strides in the race to build hope and homes for the transitionally homeless are invited to participate in the first annual Run For Cover. The 5K walk/run for charity is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14 at Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village.

Proceeds for the event, which is presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, will go to HomeAid Chicago (HAC) in and further its goal to benefit the transitionally homeless: those thousands of individuals throughout Chicagoland who may be temporarily destitute and need a place to stay until they get back on their feet.

The Run for Cover race was created to "bring awareness to this growing problem," said HAC Executive Director Natalie Ashton, who hopes to draw 250 or more participants-including members of the local homebuilding industry-to the event. "Over the course of a year, there are an estimated 166,000 homeless individuals in the city of Chicago alone. And 26,000 of these unfortunate souls are children. But what most of us don't realize is that homelessness can often be a short-term situation. Many of these people simply need a little helping hand and they're quickly off the streets."

HAC's goal is to "provide safe, clean intermediary shelters and community services for these transitionally homeless individuals," said Ashton. "These are people like mothers who were forced to leave an abusive relationship, men who have lost their homes due to unexpected job cuts, pregnant teenagers with nowhere to turn, and needy families who have exhausted every resource to pay for a sick child's chronic medical care."

The Run for Cover will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a registration session/packet pick-up, followed by a pre-race welcome and warm-up at 8:30 a.m. The run/walk will commence promptly at 9 a.m. The race will take place in groves 5 through 16 of Busse Woods near the intersection of Higgins and Arlington Heights Roads. Ample free parking is available near that intersection's entrance.

Complimentary food and refreshments will be served before and after the run, with water also available during the race. The first 300 participants to arrive Saturday morning will get a free Run for Cover T-shirt, and all walkers and runners will receive a goody bag. Delphi MyFi portable XM satellite radios (subscription not included) will also be given to the top male and female finishers in seven different age categories: 14 and under; 15-20; 21-30; 31-40; 41-50; 51-60; and 65 and older. Additionally, separate awards will be bestowed to one male and one female participant who finish with the overall fastest times regardless of age.

Those interested in participating can register online at www.hbagc.com (click on the "Run for Cover" logo on the right side of the page). There, registration and pledge forms can be downloaded, as well as a complete map of Busse Woods. For more information, to make a donation or to request a registration packet by mail, call (630) 627-7575.

Businesses helping to sponsor Run for Cover include Northfield-based Dearborn Buckingham Group, Inc., Elmhurst-based Walsh Communications L.L.C., Countrywide Home Loans, First American Title, Wells Fargo, and Grant's Appliances. HAC is also looking to secure more corporate sponsors and donors. Contact Jeanne at (630) 627-7575 x223 if you'd like to sign up.

For more information about HomeAid Chicago, visit www.homeaid.org.