Run4Peace, the annual 5K benefiting the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, is back, and this year it’s moving to a bigger home. After last year’s race drew more than a thousand participants to Moraine Valley Community College, organizers knew they had outgrown the space.

The 2025 race is set for Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8 a.m. in Centennial Park, 10499 W. 153rd St. in Orland Park. Registration is $40 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. The day will feature a 5K run, a one-mile walk, and a kids’ dash.

“This year, we want it to be the biggest one that we’ve ever had,” said Amyra H. Muhammad, team lead for Run4Peace and PCRF. 

“It’s no secret that Gaza has the largest cohort of children amputees around the world – fundraising for such an important cause makes it more special.”

PCRF’s Medical and Prosthetic Limb Program provides prosthetics and rehabilitation for children who have lost limbs. Muhammad said the mission is clear: “PCRF is a non-political, non-religious organization.” 

“The main goal is to help children who don’t have access to medical care– these are helpless children that don’t have any other way of being cared for”

Josselyn Sorto, Run4Peace’s social media coordinator, said the event gives people a way to turn that helplessness into action.

“A lot of us have felt helpless,” Sorto said. “Participating in Run4Peace means you’re contributing, you’re helping children, raising awareness, advocating for PCRF, and changing the narrative in the community.”

The need for PCRF’s work is felt in the most devastating of personal stories. Muhammad shared one about a 2-year-old boy who arrived in the U.S. for treatment after his home was struck, an attack that killed his mother.

“Now this 2-year-old doesn’t have a mom,” Muhammad said. “His father is trying to integrate into this community while constantly hearing news of more family members lost, these are the stories that remind us why we do this.”

“At the end of the day, these are children,” she added. “They are victims of circumstances beyond their control.”

“We are surrounded by so much heartache and constantly reminded of the genocide,” Sorto said. 

“I think this run for peace is kind of a way to remind people of the Palestinian community– the essence of their empowerment, their resilience, the beauty, the intelligence, the charisma, that every single Palestinian community member has.”

Sorto added, “And I think we have forgotten so much of the beauty of the actual substance of the Palestinian community because we’re always constantly seeing horrible things on the news.”

The event, she said, is also an invitation to meet neighbors and connect with the community, while exploring local vendors and new finds.

Last year’s crowd proved just how wide the circle has grown. Supporters packed the track, cheering runners and connecting with one another in solidarity. This September, organizers hope the move to Centennial Park will make room for even more people.

“All are welcome,” Muhammad said.