Becker’s annual Haitian Hustle 5k makes its ninth appearance  next Saturday on the streets of Becker to the delight of hundreds of walkers and runners. The HH 5K is a fun run/walk to benefit families in country of Haiti.

 

This year’s race commences  Sat., Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Becker Primary school. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.

 

It all began in 2010, when professional and novice runners and walkers hit the streets of Becker to raise money to cover the educational costs of the children living at the Lighthouse Children’s Home run by Jesus in Haiti Ministries.

 

This year, three area churches are combining their efforts to help their brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti — Becker Baptist, Becker Evangelical Free and Oakwood.

 

The Haitian Hustle 5k was started nine years ago to help raise money for children in Haiti affected by the 2010 earthquake. Many children were orphaned from the quake and the Lighthouse was created to care and tend to the children. The Lighthouse is not an orphanage, but an intentional family made up of these orphaned children (many now teenagers and older) and their caregivers. 

 

Dawn Bengtson has chaired the event since its inception and she and her volunteers organize and set up the course for the morning venture. All money raised from the race goes to cover the educational costs of the children living at the Lighthouse Children’s Home in Bon Repos, Haiti.

 

Race money will cover tuition, books and other supplies and transportation to school. If funds raised exceed what is needed for educational costs, the additional goes toward their living expenses for the coming year.

 

Over 300 runners and walkers typically participate in the run/walk and Bengtson and her crew look for more of the same this year.

 

This year as well as previous years, the event features a “virtual race” where people from all over the U.S. will be running in their own hometowns, receiving a t-shirt and giving to this cause. It also will be run simultaneously by the kids who are supported by the race in Haiti. 

Many local businesses sponsor the Becker Haitian Hustle.  It is overseen by the three  churches working together because they feel they need to be obedient to God’s call to care for those in need.

 

Persons interested in registering or donating can do so by going to the website,  www.haitianhustle.com.  Online registration is closed but runners/walkers can still register on the day of the event for $25 (adults) and $15 (kids). Tshirts are first-come, first-served.

 

Typically members of some of the fall sports teams come out and cheer along the route, which Bengtson so much appreciates.