On Thursday night, June 4, Grant Park will double as both a running course and a remembrance space when the Race Against Gun Violence returns to the lakefront. The evening fundraiser, organized by Strides for Peace, brings runners, walkers, and families together for an expo and multiple race distances, all aimed at raising money for community-based violence prevention groups. Organizers describe the Race Against Gun Violence as part memorial, part practical fundraising engine for neighborhood nonprofits.
CBS coverage and nonprofit profiles
CBS News Chicago is stepping in as the event's media sponsor. The station plans to air profiles of several participating nonprofits starting Monday, May 25, spotlighting groups that are tackling gun violence across the city, according to CBS Chicago.
Event details and schedule
The in-person program will unfold on Upper Hutchinson Field in Grant Park, where charities begin setting up booths in the early evening, and activities run into the night. Organizers list a 5 p.m. booth setup window, a 6 p.m. welcome and warm-up, followed by a Kids for Peace sprint, and full race starts shortly after. Distances on offer include an 8K, 5K and a 2-mile walk, per the event listings. For schedule and venue specifics, see the event listing on CountyCare.
Fundraising, partners and national expansion
Strides for Peace says every contribution raised through the Race goes to the participant's chosen charity partner, and that the event is designed to amplify local organizations' summer programming. The group also notes that 2026 marks a national expansion of the Race Against Gun Violence to Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York, along with an accompanying Expo in Chicago, as part of a broader push to build a national network of violence prevention groups, per Strides for Peace.
How to sign up
Registration and fundraising pages are hosted on RunSignUp. Participants can sign up as individuals or as part of a team and create peer-to-peer fundraising pages. Entry fees vary by distance, and real-time pricing along with race toolkits are posted on the registration page, according to RunSignUp.
Why this matters
The Race Against Gun Violence blends a community-facing fundraiser with a public platform for neighborhood groups at a moment when Chicago has seen shootings and homicides tick up compared with last year's lows, according to Chicago Police Department data reported by WTTW. Organizers say events like this are meant to honor victims while channeling money to local programs that step in before conflicts turn deadly.
