Over 500 in Support of Erin’s AAIM 2013 Race

When Gerry Olmsted looks back on why he and his wife Sandy started Erin’s AAIM for Change, the intent was to turn a bad experience into a good cause.

For the last seven years, the family has held the Erin’s AAIM Race for Change 5K in Orland Park, raising over $125,000 in the process for the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, and college scholarships for Carl Sandburg and Plainfield East high school students.

Read Sandy Olmsted’s thoughts on this year’s race.

The race and charitable effort is named after Gerry and Sandy Olmsted’s daughter Erin, who died at age 17 in 1997 while riding in a car driven by an intoxicated driver.

“AAIM is a wonderful program,” Gerry Olmsted said, shortly before Sunday morning’s race began. “They provide resources to help victims of accidents and their families, among other things. Sometimes they buy gravestones.”

About 530 people registered for the race and a vast majority of those registered braved the questionable weather on Sunday to take part in the race.

“Another part of this is to make people aware of the risks,” Gerry Olmsted said. “There’s nothing wrong with people loosening up and enjoying themselves. Just don’t get behind the wheel.”

Watch two Orland Park police officers be recognized for their high number of DUI arrests.

Learn more about Erin’s AAIM and the foundation supporting the effort.

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