JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parts of San Marco were filled with hundreds of runners Saturday morning as they raced in the first Biscuits and Bubbles 5k and Fun Run.
Money raised from the event supported Haven Retreats, a non-profit organization helping families with foster and adoptive children.
Bentlie Middleton was one of Saturday’s runners.
“It makes me happy because I like how they’re supporting Haven,” Bentlie said.
Bentlie, her sister Mia and their brother were in foster care. In 2018, they were taken in by Trina Middleton and her husband as foster kids, and then in 2019, they adopted them.
“So our journey was different probably than most. We didn’t specifically chose it, God led us to Mia, Bentlie and their little brother Michael. So, they had an unfortunate circumstance that led them to a situation where they didn’t have anybody and they, my husband and I felt called by Jesus to be that extended family for them,” Middleton said.
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Mary Davis, an organization runner and a mom who adopted two teens, said this organization means the most to her.
“Being able to have a safe space to share that, not be judged, but also the retreat’s on top of that to go and refresh and get pampered and be ready to go back to your families so there’s no words for what it’s meant for me and my family,” Davis said.
More than 400 people showed up Saturday morning to support this run.
Something the founder of the organization, who was also a foster and mom who adopted children, said is special.
“It means everything. We expected 200 people so to have 420 come and run and show foster and adoptive families they’re not alone means the world to me,” Founder Rebecca Harvin said.
According to the Florida Department of Health, in 2022 there were 24,245 children in foster care throughout the state.
- Clay County had 249 children in the system
- Duval County had 1,239 children in the system
- St. Johns County had 146 children in the system
Harvin said those children and families need all the support they can get — and events like this mean the world to them.