Yvonne Oldaker of Homewood is preparing to run her third Chicago Marathon this fall as part of the Run Domestic Violence Out of Town team.
All she’s asking the rest of the community to do is dance.
Oldaker is organizing a fundraising event from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 10, at Vice District Brewing, 18027 Dixie Highway, that will be a nostalgic opportunity to move to the beat of the 1980s-1990s music scene in Homewood, specifically Off the Alley, a place downtown where people gathered for music and dancing back in the day.
On the event’s Facebook page Oldaker states: “Remember dancing in Homewood in the little space off the alley with the black lights and the juicebar? Regardless of whether you were in the mosh pit or wish you were there, join us at a dance party to raise funds for the Run Domestic Violence Out of Town 2019 Chicago Marathon Running Team.”
Anyone who pines for the days when Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Tori Amos and The Sisters of Mercy ruled will find their music at the event. DJ Preach will be playing tunes and is taking requests at the event’s Facebook page.
Vice District is near the site of the former Off the Alley venue. Oldaker notes that the Off the Alley establishment owners are not affiliated with the event.
Vice District is generously supporting the fundraising effort, Oldaker said.
There will be a raffle at the event. Anyone who purchases tickets in advance will receive five raffle tickets for prizes, including tattoo time at Cry Babies Tattoos, yoga classes at Serendipity Yoga, massage time at Reclaim Vitality and a gift certificate to Intense Conditioning.
General admission tickets come with two beer tickets. Additional beers will be $7, with $1 donated back to the team.
Advance tickets can be purchased online.
Oldaker is a nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife. She is also a domestic violence survivor who benefited from the services of non-profit organizations devoted to aiding victims of abuse. She credits that support with helping her successfully access the legal system and to rebuild her life and her family.
She is running with the Run DV Out of Town team because she feels it is important to give back to the community that helped them at their time of greatest struggle, she said.
The Chicago Marathon takes place in October, which is also National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The Run DV Out of Town team consists of representatives from Chicago area domestic violence service providers who pursue the cause of ending domestic violence.
All revenue generated by the Run DV Team is used by member agencies for domestic violence prevention and services to support survivors and their families.
The team has guaranteed entry spots for runners who want to raise money for this cause.
Interested runners can find information at the team’s website.