Church to hold 5K to save lives of babies in Mozambique

By running a 5K in Carol Stream this weekend, DuPage County residents can help save babies whose mothers are willing to walk twice as far to get them food.

The Run for a Life 5K and 1-mile fun run are organized by members of the Vineyard Church of DuPage to support Children's Relief International's efforts to rescue babies in extreme need.

Proceeds go to the Tessa Grace Nutrition Center in the Sofala region of Mozambique, which provides milk, food supplements and health checks for babies up to 2 years old. Mothers too malnourished and sick to nurse their babies may walk 10 kilometers or more to bring them to Tessa Grace.

Anita Frederick, who pastors at DuPage Vineyard with her husband, Dave, has visited the center five times.

"These babies would literally starve without our help," Frederick said. "The moms have no other recourse. Every time I visit, hold the lively, squirming babies, and see the tears of hope and joy in the eyes of their mothers, I am so thankful for the privilege of making a life-giving difference in the lives of others."

Run for a Life is Saturday, Oct. 18, at Bierman Park, 25W560 Geneva Road, Carol Stream. Registration starts at 8 a.m., with the fun run at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 9:30 a.m.

Online registration for the 5K is $30 for those 16 and older. One-mile fun run online signup is $20. Registration for either event is $10 for ages 10 to 15, free for ages 9 and younger. Register at signmeup.com/101980. Race-day registration is $5 more for ages 16 and older.

Tessa Grace is a ministry of Children's Relief, International, a 501(c)(3) Christian organization.

For information on the run, see childrensrelief.org/run-for-a-life/.