It was four years ago when the Freemans first decided to raise money to assist their move to Ecuador. In what would become an annual event, the Casa de Fe 5K run/walk helped the family finance a two-year mission trip to the Casa de Fey orphanage.

When the Freeman family arrived in Ecuador, they came with enough money to fund the whole stay. However, they soon realized that the orphanage needed money for their many projects as well. Then coordinator Michelle Case was already in the process of planning the second event, and they decided proceeds would go directly to Casa de Fey. Ever since, they have worked to help provide the orphanage with much needed funding.

Casa de Fey, founded by Patty Sue Arnold of Brookhaven, is an orphanage that focuses on helping abandoned, abused and special needs children while sharing the love of Christ. During their two-year stay, Jeff Freeman said they experience things from all over the spectrum.

“We experienced some deaths,” he said. “We experienced some children coming to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. We experienced some children being reunited with their families.”

During their stay, Freeman said the locals were always welcoming and never looked down on them for being foreign.

“The locals just accepted us as part of their family,” he said.

The race will begin at the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce at 8 a.m. Saturday. Packet pick-up and race day registration will begin at 7 a.m. and last until 7:30 a.m. There will also be a 1-mile fun run. Registration fees will be $25 for the 5K and $15 for fun run until Saturday. Fees will be $30 for the 5K and $20 for the fun run on race day. T-shirts are only guaranteed to those who register by Saturday.

Racers can register online at racesonline.com, by picking and dropping off registration forms at Bank of Brookhaven or by mailing the registration to Casa de Fe 5K, c/o Heucks Retreat Baptist Church, 2167 Heucks Retreat Road NE, Brookhaven.