CAPA 'steps up for kids' this Saturday with 5K

By Ashley Horsley | This Saturday April 13th, the Child Abuse Prevention Association is holding it’s annual Step Up For Kids 5k at the Live Oaks Park in Port Royal. CAPA invites everyone to join them at 7:00 am to register for the race, which will begin at 8:00 am. Every year they hold this event to help raise the awareness of child abuse and neglect, as well as help fund the programs that are available for the children of Beaufort County.  There are around 5,000 children in foster care just in South Carolina alone, and imagine how many of those innocent children live in Beaufort.

CAPA is a non-profit organization for Beaufort that helps the local families recognize what child abuse and neglect is, whether it is intentional or non-intentional; and they help equip them with the knowledge, skills, values and tools they need to break the destructive cycle of abuse. They offer programs to the community at local schools to learn about abuse; and they also offer programs such as: Domestic Abuse Prevention, Parenting Programs and Professional Development. CAPA also operates an Open Arms Shelter in Beaufort that is for anyone that are the ages from birth to 21 years old that have been abused or neglected. The children can stay there an average of 60-90 days and then are usually placed into a foster home once they leave the shelter. While at the shelter, they help the children learn to trust again and feel safe as well.

Since CAPA is a non-profit organization, they need help to raise money for all the great programs and events they offer for the families and children of our community.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and a perfect way to help is by participating in the 5K Race on Saturday.  On average, a child gets abused in South Carolina every 41 minutes. CAPA needs our help so they can continue to do everything they can for our youth and educate the families about what abuse is and how to stop the destructive cycle that harms their children and can break up their families.

Participants of the race can register at 7 am, and the race begins at 8 am. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for juniors (8-12) and free to children under the age of 12 with a paid adult. The applications are available at CAPA’s outreach center in Port Royal, or registration can be done online at Step Up For Kids 5K Registration.

Beaufort, get out there bright and early Saturday morning to help out the innocent youth of our community and get to walking or running!