Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children is putting on its fourth annual “I Am for the Child” 5K Run and 1-mile Fun Walk tomorrow, April 25, at 8 a.m. at Spring Park. The volunteer group encourages all to indulge in an afternoon of music, food and activities for children. All of the proceeds for the event will go to support CASA.
Junior Olivia Bissell worked at the CASA 5K event in 2012.
“I was taken to a part [of the race] closer to the finish line,” Bissell said. “I had a route marker to show people where to go. While I did that, I cheered for the runners and I encouraged them to finish strong. It was a lot of fun being out there and seeing all of the people participate for this cause.”
Bissell said she will be working the CASA 5K again this year, but isn’t sure where she will be working.
According to the www.wccasa.org, CASA is a group of trained volunteers appointed by a judge to speak up for children who have been abused and neglected. Volunteers work alongside attorneys and caseworkers as appointed officers of the court once each has completed their training.
Volunteers are assigned cases to gather information about each child’s individual needs. Although they do not act as attorneys themselves, they do have the opportunity to work with the Attorney ad Litem who has been appointed to represent the child’s legal interests. According to the site, attorneys appreciate the assistance and information that is provided to them during the course of CASA’s investigation.
Executive director of CASA Laura Burks has been putting on the event since it began in 2011. She said she feels strongly for what CASA represents and who they serve.
“For many of these children, their CASA volunteer is the only presence in their life,” Burks said. “That single volunteer can often be enough to break the cycle of violence and neglect. Not just for one child, but for generations to come.”
Runners can register before or the day of the race for a fee of $35 starting at 7 a.m. Runners can also register at Simmons First Bank today from noon – 2 p.m. Teams of 10 members or more can sign up together for $15 per person and children under 12 can register for $10. To register online and for more information on the 5K, visit the website at www.racesonline.com/events/casa-5k-fun-run-1-mile-run-walk.
