Hundreds of participants formed a sea of red and white Sunday as they ran and walked through Montrose Harbor in Lincoln Park for the Polish Independence 10k/5k Run/Walk.

McCormick senior and Polish American Student Alliance President Mark Ogarek sported a traditional red Krakowiak hat, complete with rainbow ribbons instead of the usual bird feathers, for the event celebrating the 104th anniversary of Poland’s independence. 

Ogarek, one of four members of the alliance who attended, said Chicago has a strong Polish community. It’s home to one of the largest Polish immigrant populations of any U.S. city.

“They often call Chicago the capital of ‘Polonia’ — the word for Polish people living abroad,” Ogarek said.

The run brought together immigrants and people of Polish descent of multiple generations. Before starting the event, organizers gave directions and led warmups in both English and Polish. Organizers and attendees also stood for both the American and Polish national anthems. 

By the finish line, attendees could grab a traditional pierogi, a ptasie mleczko — a chocolate and marshmallow dessert meaning “bird’s milk” in Polish — and other Polish cultural foods. 

Weinberg junior Mikey Wolski said he saw seven family friends at the event, and being at events with Polish people makes him feel “a bit more at home.”

“Everyone being Polish creates a vibe where you almost know each other without knowing each other,” Wolski said. “Just because you’re Polish, I feel like I already know you better.”

PASA Social Chair and Weinberg junior Magda Slowakiewicz said she enjoys attending club events in addition to the race, such as the Polish Culture Night the organization holds in the spring. Last year, the club hosted a traditional folk dancing group for the event and ate Polish foods, including different types of pierogies.

Slowakiewicz goes home to the South Side of Chicago every weekend, where she speaks in Polish with her parents. But when she’s on campus, she said she has the club to connect with other Polish people.

“When I’m (on campus), at least I have some people that I can talk to about my Polish heritage, traditions, cultures, things like that,” Slowakiewicz said.

Ogarek said he was not always proud of his heritage. When he was younger, his parents forced him to attend Polish school every Friday. Ogarek said he would have prefered to not speak Polish and instead be “like the other kids.” 

He now has a new perspective and hopes to share his culture with everyone. He teaches his girlfriend Polish words and takes his friends to hidden Polish food spots in the city. Ogarek said he also encourages everyone to come to the club’s events. 

“The first line of our mission statement is that the Polish American Student Alliance is open to everyone,” Ogarek said, “no matter their heritage or descent.”

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