The race traces its roots to 1999, following the murder of Ricky Byrdsong, the first Black men's basketball coach at Northwestern University. Killed by a white supremacist while walking with his children in Skokie, Byrdsong’s legacy galvanized a movement that has persisted for over two decades. This year’s 10K and 5K courses drew families, activists, and local leaders, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Sherialyn Byrdsong, the coach’s widow.

Proceeds from the event reached nearly $40,000, funds earmarked for the YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s violence prevention and racial equity initiatives. YWCA CEO Cherese Ledet noted that the turnout serves as a critical counter-narrative to national trends. Federal data recorded over 11,600 hate crime incidents across the U.S. in 2024, while Northwestern University reported a ninefold increase in local hate crimes during the same period. For the thousands who crossed the finish line, the event remains a necessary, tangible investment in community safety and inclusion.