A November 5K race in Cabool will raise funds for orphaned and vulnerable children of Uganda through the vehicles of soccer and education.
The “Dresses for Dreams: Girl Empowerment 5K” in Texas County is among five in different cities across the United States. The focus of the event is to raise awareness and funding for the special girl empowerment projects that Fields of Dreams Uganda operates at their partner schools
Each location –– Cabool, Austin, Texas, Evansville, Ind., Fort Wayne, Ind. and Quincy, Ill. –– will have specific activities for Fields of Dreams Uganda, a non-profit organization in Cabool. The race begins at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 4 at the Cabool Fairgrounds on Canady Lane. Packet pickup time starts at 9:30 a.m. All runners –– both male and female –– are asked to run or walk in a dress to show camaraderie with the girls the event will support across Uganda.
New this year is a kids’ fun run at 9 a.m. that will allow participants to walk in the shoes of a child in Uganda. Cost is $34 for the 5K and $7 for the kids’ run.
Fields of Dreams Uganda is a non-profit organization located in Cabool with the mission of providing hope to the orphaned and vulnerable children of Uganda through the vehicles of soccer and education. They are currently serving around 6,500 children on the campuses of nine partner schools in the Northern and Central regions of Uganda.
The focus of the event is to raise awareness and funding for the special girl empowerment projects that Fields of Dreams Uganda operates at their partner schools.
“The average girl at our partner campuses will miss up to 20 percent of her education because she lacks the proper hygiene supplies she needs during her monthly period,” said executive director Michael Warneke. “We have seen a need that we so often take for granted here in the U.S., and we want to ensure that these young girls have every opportunity to be successful in their futures. Last year’s race has also allowed us to start constructing changing rooms at our partner schools to give dignity and pride to the brave young women we serve.
“Fields of Dreams Uganda is committed to leveling the playing field in the classroom and on the pitch through hygiene kits, changing rooms, soccer training, DREAMS plans and other unique programming to ensure that the children they serve have a chance at a positive and purpose-filled future.”
The event is sponsored by Western Dairy Transport, ShowMe Overstocks, River Rock Redi-Mix, the Cabool Area Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Gun Co.
For more information, call 812-604-2458 or email Warneke at mike@fieldofdreamsuganda.org. The organization’s web address is www.fieldofdreamsuganda.org.