Ben's Memorial Mile & Community Festival is an annual event hosted in downtown Downers Grove to raise money/awareness for mental health and to honor the life of Ben Silver. The event consists of a little kids' 100-meter dash followed by two officially-timed, one-mile road races for runners and walkers. Prices will increase to $25 for the open and elite miles after July 8th. The little kids' 100-meter dash is free. We will again have T-shirts, but you must select if you would like one during your registration process. You must register by July 22 to get a T-shirt. The community festival consists of live music, concessions, raffles, mental-health booths, fitness booths, art booths, kids activities, and corn hole. The community festival is FREE to attend. Ben's Memorial Mile is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all proceeds are donated to mental-health foundations.
| Distance | Price | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Miles | $20.00 | Apr 8 | Jul 9 |
| $25.00 | Jul 9 | Aug 8 | |
| 100m | $0.00 | Apr 8 | Aug 8 |
| T-shirt (for those NOT participating in the races) | $10.00 | Apr 8 | Jul 23 |
| Year | Finishers | Median Time | Fastest Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 134 | 7:54 | 4:34 |
| 2024 | 149 | 9:23 | 4:33 |
Interested in this race?