Runners and walkers getting ready to begin last year's 5K race. This year, the Hope for Healing 5K will begin at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 in East Park. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — The Chenango Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Hope for Healing 5K run and walk will take place on Saturday, April 30 in East Park, to raise awareness of and recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The run is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., with a kid's quarter-mile run beginning at 10:15 a.m. Participants will receive a gift bag containing CAC memorabilia, a water bottle, hand sanitizer, a blue pinwheel, and informational pamphlets about the CAC. The first 100 people who register will also receive a T-shirt.

Prospective runners can register at chenangochildadvocacy.us/hope-for-healing-5k.html or in person beginning at 8:30 a.m. the day of the event.

Registration is $30 per person 18 years and older, and $10 per person aged five to 17 years old. All proceeds will benefit CAC programming to help them sustain their mission of helping children who have been victims of a crime, abuse, or neglect.

"All the money will be going to the MD team, the multidisciplinary team development, because we have no money in our budget for that piece. That means team building, that means training, that means even just getting meetings together," explained CAC Program Coordinator Joanne Smith.

"The other thing is for support group programs we have two ongoing support groups for care providers and also for our Safe Harbour Program, and it takes money to run those," she continued. "And then the last thing of course is direct services. None of it goes for administrative, it’s all basically for programming."

In addition to supporting a good cause, runners and spectators alike can enjoy a Zumba session led by Mickie Davis at 9:30 a.m., a children's animal area, Gilligan's ice cream, several booths with information on local organizations and businesses, and raffled gift baskets donated by local businesses.

"We sell tickets, and on the pavilion basically we display all the items and individuals can put tickets that they purchased in bags, and then we do a drawing," said Smith. "[They are] a dollar a piece, or you get an arm length for $10."

The City of Norwich Police Department asks those not attending the 5K to be mindful of runners on the road. They said the run and walk route “will concentrate in the northeast and southeast sections of the city,” and “motorists should expect delays if passing through that area this weekend.”

The Hope for Healing 5K is sponsored by M&T Bank, Community Bank, Children's Home of Wyoming Conference, Grand Union, NYCM Insurance, and Live Event NY.

More information on the Chenango Child Advocacy Center and the Hope for Healing 5K can be found at chenangochildadvocacy.us or on the Chenango Child Advocacy Center Facebook page.