VERO BEACH — The 5th Annual HabiTrot to Higher Education 5K Run/Walk will take place Saturday, April 7, at South Beach Park in Vero Beach. A 1-mile Bunny Hop for Kids will take place just before the 5K gets under way. Registration is 6:45 a.m., Bunny Hop 7:30 a.m. and 5K 8 a.m.
The fun-filled HabiTrot was introduced three years ago to support Habitat’s Scholarship Fund, which was formed to help give homeowners and their children a chance at higher education. This fund helps to provide educational after-school care and summer care by subsidizing cost and grants scholarships for students and homeowners who are college-bound or for post-secondary educational programs.
HabiTrot pre-registration fee is $20; day-of-event registration, $25; Bunny Hop registration, $10. Each participant will receive a t-shirt and other goodies. Water and refreshments will be available on race day, and there will be live entertainment.
Committee members include: chairman, Jessica Schmitt; Peggy Benton, Al DeRenzo, Peggy Gibbs, Regina Kennedy, Roger LaJoie, Debbie Parcher, Shirley Reul and Dave Taylor. Event Golden Runner Sponsor is the Youth Sailing Foundation. This year, we anticipate at least 300 runners.
Each year Indian River Habitat for Humanity builds approximately 30 homes for deserving, low-income families. These families work hard to make home ownership a possibility, putting in “sweat equity” hours and diligently saving their money.
Once they are in their homes, they must continue to work hard to pay a zero interest mortgage along with other bills they may have. This often leaves little money for proper child care and little if any money to provide a post-secondary education for their children.
The Scholarship Program is one important way Habitat supports its homeowners and their children and works to eliminate the need for second-generation Habitat homeowners.
For registration information or to become a sponsor, please contact Peggy Gibbs at 772-562-9860 x209.
