About 250 people attended Saturday's second annual Superhero 5K, held by Partnership for Strong Families, a child welfare service for 13 counties in northeastern Florida.
The race at Westside Park in Gainesville was dedicated to raise money for the organization's adoption-recruitment program, and runners were encouraged to wear superhero clothing in support of finding foster-children guardians, also referred to as superheroes.
Patty Carroll, the community and government relations manager at the agency, said the event was also aimed at educating those interested in the adoption process.
“There a myth out there that adoption is very expensive,” she said.
But if someone is adopting through the foster-care system, the state will pay for the fees, Carroll said, and there are some benefits like paid college tuition for the child. The agency now has 50 foster children who are looking for permanent homes, she added.
Race attendee Belinda Conrad adopted two boys, Isaiah and Lucas, about five years ago through Partnership for Strong Families.
When she found out she could not have a baby, Conrad considered adoption. She then waited until she got her health back from battling cancer to become the children’s guardian.
“You don’t have to be perfect to adopt,” she said.