April 10, 2026
A team of Mercy Home coworkers, as well as several Mercy Home Heroes, as those who compete in running events to raise funds for our work are known, took on Chicago’s annual Shamrock Shuffle. Held annually on the weekend following St. Patrick’s Day, the Shuffle marks the beginning of the running season in Chicago. The timing is also ideal because it fits in well with our annual March for Kids campaign.
“The Shamrock Shuffle is such a nice extension of March for Kids,” said Mary Connolly, manager of the Mercy Home Heroes Endurance program, said. “It helps us really own March in Chicago.”
The Shuffle consists of an 8K run and a two-mile walk. It is one of the city’s most popular athletic events and draws between 25,000 and 32,500 participants each year. Being tied into the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Chicago means that runners often compete in fun, holiday-themed running attire, including tutus, face paint, novelty hats, and more. The route through downtown provides views of the emblematic green-dyed Chicago River, as well as the lakefront.
There were a total of five Mercy Home Heroes who competed this year in the 8K run while raising funds. The race even attracted out-of-town Heroes, including one from Los Angeles and another from Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Past Heroes also took to the streets to represent Mercy Home and were cheered on by the crowd. After the race ended, the Heroes met up at Emerald Loop Bar & Grill for a post-run get together.
Among them was a team of Mercy Home coworkers, including Amy Schulz, Taylor Housing, Mario Tamayo, Keli Shllaku, and Angie Womack, recruited by Vice President of Youth Programs Alicia Osborne as a team-building activity. Osborne made the ask shortly after starting at Mercy Home, and everyone was on board.
“I think just making the commitment to one another and showing up and doing it was an overall good thing [for the team],” she said.
Among them was a team of Mercy Home coworkers, including Amy Schulz, Taylor Housing, Mario Tamayo, Keli Shllaku, and Angie Womack, recruited by Vice President of Youth Programs Alicia Osborne as a team-building activity. Osborne made the ask shortly after starting at Mercy Home, and everyone was on board.
“I think just making the commitment to one another and showing up and doing it was an overall good thing [for the team],” she said.
On the day of the race, they donned coordinating outfits that included Mercy Home Heroes jerseys and matching socks and showed up ready to go. Tamayo went the extra mile dyeing his beard green to fit the festive atmosphere.
“We had a really good time together,” Osborne said. “It was super nice to see the city in that way, and we took some fun pictures of everybody.”
She added that spectators called out Mercy Home as they ran, recognizing them from their familiar Mercy Home Heroes. Among those cheering on the runners was Nathan Tamayo, the Heroes coordinator.
“Nathan was a cheer squad of one,” Connolly said. “He did a great job cheering and everyone was happy to see him out on the course.”
The running season in Chicago culminates in October with the Bank of American Chicago Marathon. Mercy Home fields one of that event’s largest charity teams, known as the Mercy Home Heroes, who raise considerable support for our mission.
Thank you to the Heroes and our many coworkers who took on the Shuffle this year! We are proud of you for representing Mercy Home so well.
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