Naperville Lymphoma Walk On! In Memory of Chuck Papanos

Third annual “Walk On!” event set for July 28, supporting lymphoma research in memory of park manager Chuck Papanos
Program starts at 6 p.m. at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion in Naperville. A voice auction, a raffle and–new this year—live music by Jukebox JBC are all part of the 2023 Naperville Lymphoma Walk honoring the late Chuck Papanos.

“Walk on for Chuck” covers 1.5 miles in Riverwalk Park, including the Chuck Papanos Honorary Garden, just west of the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion. The July 28 event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a short program and the auction, featuring items such as Chicago Bears tickets. Raffle drawings are set for 7:30 p.m.

Since its launch in 2021, the event has raised nearly $90,000. To register a team or make a donation for this year, go to http://lymphoma.org/walkonchuck.

Chuck managed Naperville’s Riverwalk and the many community parks on the city’s north side, including Centennial Beach, Nike Sports Complex, and the Millennium Carillon. For nearly 20 years, he handled details large and small for events like the Riverwalk Art Fair, the Sprint Triathlon and the Healing Field of Honor.

When he faced a battle with an aggressive lymphoma, Chuck was determined to make good things happen for anyone touched by this disease. Before his death, Chuck and and his wife, Ann Marie, chose to support the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF), which has funded innovative research for 25 years.

Chuck decided that if he couldn’t change the course of his case, we could try to change the course for others. He had a saying: ‘Doing nothing? Not an option.’ We’re so grateful for the people participating in this walk and doing something— for anyone touched by lymphoma.”