The Wild Child – a benefit adult 5K run and 1K kids dash to raise awareness and support for the Burned Children Recovery Foundation – unfolds from  a.m. to noon Saturday, April 26 at Roegner Park, 601 Oravetz Road, Auburn.

The course is a paved stroller/baby jogger/kid-friendly trail along the White River. A race-end snack is provided along with sponsor giveaways and a free ride around the neighborhood on a fire truck.

Registration, which includes a T-shirt, is $30 for adults, $10 child (10 and younger). T-shirts are guaranteed to those registering before April 13.

Online registration at www.wildchildrun.com closes at midnight April 23. Day-of-race fees are $40 adults, $15 child.

Carter steps up

Local real estate agent Nikki Carter is coordinating the event. In 2005, Carter sustained second-degree burns over a large portion of her body, including her face.

“The moment of looking into a mirror for the first time and not seeing who I knew to be myself, was unexplainably traumatic,” she said. “I could not even imagine what life could be like for a child to grow up with any similar pain or suffering and how they may feel when re entering life in their community.”

As Carter explains, the vision for the Wild Child event is to create laughter and love for children by empowering and strengthening the connection of the community through a 5K run and kids 1K dash. The fundraising goal is $20,000 and 200 race participants.

The mission is to provide hope and a new beginning for burned children and their families. All donor investments will directly support the Burned Children Recovery Foundation. For donations and run registration, please visit www.wildchildrun.com.

For more information, call 253-223-3138.

For learn more about the worthy cause, please visit: www.burnedchildrenrecovery.org.