2025 Amateur Radio Public Services/Volunteer Events in Northern Illinois --- Check back for updates!
2025 Amateur Radio Public Services/Volunteer Events in Northern Illinois --- Check back for updates!
March 23, 2025
The Shamrock Shuffle is one of Chicago’s best spring races, welcoming everyone from professional athletes to beginner runners with a one-of-a-kind course that weaves its way through Chicago’s Loop, starting and finishing in Grant Park. This includes an 8K run, 1-mile run, and a 2-mile walk. Amateur radio volunteers provide course monitoring, net control, coordination with event and medical staff, etc.
VOLUNTEER SLOTS FULL.
April 27, 2025
This 5K walk/run benefits 13 programs that serve the blind, deaf, youth, and handicapped. The event occurs between Richard’s High School and the Wolfe Wildlife Area in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Amateur radio volunteers provide course monitoring, net control, and help ensure the safety of all participants. Click the button to volunteer through Cindy Schaustas (N9CAS) and the Hamfesters Ham Radio Club (W9AA).
May 3, 2025
Enjoy beautiful and historic Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL while supporting this 10K, 5K, and Kid Mile event to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Amateur radio volunteers set-up throughout the park to monitor the safety and progress of event participants. Volunteers will assist beginning at 7:00am (briefing at 7:15am) and assignments should end around 10:30am. Volunteers choose to remain for the festival, a free beverage, and the enjoyment of food trucks, music and festival activities. Click the button to volunteer through Dan Kyburz (AA9DK) and DuPage County ARES.
May 4, 2025
Enjoy the view of Hamilton Lakes while volunteering at this 1-mile & 3-mile walk event in support of the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. Amateur radio volunteers take station throughout the course to monitor and help ensure participant safety and assist organizers with ongoing event information. Click the button to volunteer through Rob Glowacki (N9MVO) and the Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club (SARC).
May 10, 2025
This event offers a 5K, 1/2 marathon, and full marathon event among the awe-inspiring scenery of the Illinois River and Starved Rock area. Amateur radio volunteers operate on and along the course to provide assistance to runners, rest stops, and race organizers. Click the button to volunteer through Scott DeSantis (KB9VRW).
May 18, 2025
Join a team that helps ‘stage’ parade participants, track their progress, monitor spectators and the parade route, and coordinate with organizers. This parade travels North down Main Street in Lombard before heading West on Maple. Click the button to volunteer through Mike Wilson (N0MO).
May 18, 2025
This 5K & 10K run event also features a 1-mile walk/run with a ‘fun run’ for the kids. It runs between Cass Avenue and Clarendon Hills Road between 69th and 71st street. There’s a lot of ground to cover for our amateur radio volunteers who watch for safety or route concerns, report progress, and coordinate with event organizers. Click the volunteer button to reach out to John McCarty (N9HRT) and the DuPage Amateur Radio Club (DARC).
May 26, 2025
This annual event will begin at 9:30 a.m. (volunteers arrive earlier) and start at York & Third St., and makes its way to Wilder Park and eventually to Prospect Avenue and and the Veterans Memorial. Amateur radio volunteers help ensure the progress of parade participants and the safety of onlookers while assistant event personnel. Click the button to volunteer through William Draheim (WD9END) and the York Radio Club.
June 1, 2025
BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO 13.1
West side of Chicago
This 13.1-mile event through Chicago’s West Side weaves through vibrant and culturally diverse neighborhoods, starting and finishing in Garfield Park. Amateur radio volunteers assist with event and participant monitoring throughout the course while assisting various event teams with communications. Click the button to volunteer through Rob Orr (K9RST) at Ham Radio Chicago.
June 7, 2025
The Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) is the beneficiary for this bike event with routes that span, 5, 13, 27, and 65 miles across the heart of America’s Dairy Land before returning to the party at the finish line. Amateur radio operators provide rider support, assistance at rest stops, on-route monitoring and communications and more. Click the button to volunteer through John Cankar (N9GUU) and the North Shore Amateur Radio Club (NS9RC).
June 29, 2025
This bicycle event provides 12, 28, 51, 73, 103, and 133-mile routes through the farmlands of Sugar Grove and nearby towns. Amateur radio operators provide rider support and communications on and along the route while coordinating with event officials. Click the volunteer button to share your interest with Randy Broadwell (N9APP).
July 4, 2025
Join a team that helps ‘stage’ parade participants, track their progress, monitor spectators and the parade route, and coordinate with organizers. This parade travels North down Main Street from downtown Wheaton. Click the button to volunteer through Mike Wilson (N0MO) and the Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs (WCRA).
July 4, 2025
Help the team ‘stage’ parade participants, track their progress, monitor spectators and the parade route, and coordinate with organizers. Click the button to volunteer through Rob Glowacki (N9MVO) and the Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club (SARC).
July 27, 2025
TURNING BACK TIME CAR SHOW
Sycamore, Illinois
The annual Fizz Ehrler Memorial Turning Back Time Car Show is a big event in beautiful downtown Sycamore. Amateur radio volunteers assist organizers with communications, traffic assistance, safety monitoring, and more. Click the button to volunteer through Robert Yurs (W9ICU) and the Kishwaukee Amateur Radio Club (KARC).
July 28, 2025
SCHAUMBURG TRIATHLON
Schaumburg, Illinois
Amateur radio volunteers assist with communications, route monitoring, and participant safety during this annual event involving a 400m swim, a 12.8-mile bike ride, and a 5K run. Click the button to volunteer through Rob Glowacki (N9MVO) and the Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club (SARC).
Aug 9, 2025
With a start in beautiful Potawatomie Park along the Fox River, this bike ride offers routes of 5-miles, 12-miles, 27, miles, and 65-miles up and down the Fox River Valley. Amateur radio teams assist with communications on and alongside the route as they guide riders, monitor aid/rest stations, provide rider assistance, and keep organizers updated. Click the button to volunteer through Mike Wilson (N0MO).
Oct 12, 2025
CHICAGO MARATHON
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago hosts one of the seven major world marathons. It’s one of the largest races in the world by number of finishers — over 50,000! Hundreds of amateur radio volunteers play a vital role in managing communications across the route in close partnership with medical teams, emergency service teams, race organizers, and others. Click the button to volunteer through Rob Orr (K9RST) at Ham Radio Chicago.
Oct 19, 2025
Enjoy beautiful Cantigny Park and it’s golf course and historic grounds while helping monitor the route, help ensure participant safety, and maintain communications and readiness to assist in the event of any emergencies. Click the button to volunteer through Dan Kyburz (AA9DK) and DuPage County Areas.
Oct 26, 2025
Help the team ‘stage’ parade participants, track their progress, monitor spectators and the parade route, and coordinate with organizers. Click the button to volunteer through Robert Yurs (W9ICU) and the Kishwaukee Amateur Radio Club (KARC).
Nov 2, 2025
This event winds across forested paths along the Fox River. Amateur radio volunteers are positioned at rest stops and other key locations along the route to help address any participant concerns, monitor for any emergencies, and provide communications throughout the event. Don’t forget the chocolate treats after the event is over. Click the button to volunteer through Mike Wilson (N0MO) and Ham Radio Chicago.
Nov 27, 2025
Help the team ‘stage’ parade participants, track their progress, monitor spectators and the parade route, and coordinate with organizers. Click the button to volunteer through Don Hlinsky (N9IZU) and the DuPage Amateur Radio Club (DARC).