GREENFIELD — The Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin Inc.’s fourth annual Race to End Child Abuse 5K Run/Walk is going virtual.
“This year, with the pandemic, we are getting creative with our race,” Executive Director Irene Woods said.
For the past three years, people have run or walked to help end child abuse. The nonprofit is dedicated to minimizing secondary trauma to child victims by streamlining the handling of cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and all services are free.
The center focuses on the needs of children and their families, Woods said, ensuring services are provided, and it reduces the need for children to tell their stories repeatedly by coordinating a single interview to gather the information needed by each member of the team — including police and the district attorney — to successfully investigate allegations of abuse.
Through the Children’s Advocacy Center, children and families are linked to medical, mental health, victim advocacy and other services on a case-by-case basis.
People can run or walk their 5K between Sept. 13 and Sept. 27, and share photos of their experience, as well as the reasons they decided to support the organization and its efforts, Woods said. The photos and stories will be shared on the nonprofit’s Facebook page.
“Our goal this year is to raise $16,404, the number of feet in a 5K,” Woods said.
If people would like to join the Children’s Advocacy Center in its fundraising efforts by participating in the 5K, Woods said they should set a goal for $310 (3.1 miles), but if they “just want to register to walk or run, that’s awesome, too.”
Race swag will be available at a time and location to be announced closer to the date of the race.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.