BRODHEAD — The 5th Annual Wings of Hope 5K Run and Walk will take place on June 8 at Putnam Park in Brodhead. Registration starts at 8:45 a.m. with the walk starting at 10 a.m. Lunch will be provided along with several fun, family-oriented activities and a basket raffle and silent auction. Register for the event or make a donation by going to www.getmeregistered.com/WingsOfHopeWalk. More information along with paper registration forms are available on the Facebook page: Inspired by Adelyne. 

The Wings of Hope Run/Walk was started by Tia and Trevor Long as a way to honor their infant daughter, Adelyne Hannah Long, who died as the result of an automobile accident on June 13, 2014, just one day before her due date. The goal of this annual event is to raise charitable funds for organizations in Green County area whose mission are to serve children and/or families. The first four years of this event have raised over $25,000 for Green County organizations. 

This year will be the fifth and final year for the Wings of Hope Walk, and the walk has partnered with the Green County Child Advocacy Center. The Green County Child Advocacy Center is a child-friendly, safe and neutral location in which law enforcement and Child Protective Services staff may conduct and observe forensic interviews of children believed to be victims of crimes, and where the child(ren) and family members receive support, crisis intervention and referrals for needed mental health and medical treatment. By working in a multidisciplinary team model, trauma for child victims is reduced and children and their families are able to access necessary resources to support healing and recovery. In 2019, the CAC is working to add a therapy dog to their facility and funds from this year’s event will be supporting this new initiative. Research demonstrates that therapy animals support the healing process in numerous ways by providing comfort, encouraging communication and decreasing depressive and anxiety symptoms.