Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It’s more than a 5K, literally.

A new organization, Healing Hearts, is kicking off with its first fundraiser called Lifting LaGrange.

Healing Hearts will host a “5K plus” on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. to raise money for families and individuals who are facing unexpected medical and financial difficulties.

“It was something the Lord really laid on my heart,” said event organizer Satomi Morgan. “I really wanted to do something for our community. Something where people can get together and where we can show the new organization.”

All money raised from the event will go directly toward families who have been affected medically by either COVID-19, cancer or other illnesses that created a financial burden.

“My heart went out to a few families that I have been following along with on social media and I wanted to do something special for them and raise money for them,” Morgan said. “Financially, that’s got to be hard.”

Starting at The Thread across Hollis Hand Elementary competitors will:

4 Run/walk one mile, 88 burpees, 88 push-ups, 88 squats, run/walk one mile, 88 sit ups, 88 mountain climbers, 88 jumping jacks, finish one mile run/walk

Racers can choose to race solo, with a partner, or with a team of four. If on a team, the different activities can be split among the team members. Each racer or team can also choose to only participate in the run.

The race will end at Hollis Hand Elementary.

Morgan said she doesn’t want anyone to feel like they can’t compete due to the exercises and said that it can all be modified to fit what they can do physically.

Volunteers will be at each stopping point to help racers through it as well as show the modifications.

“It is cool because it will be on 8/8 at 8 o’clock, so I called it like a crazy 8 challenge,” Morgan said.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. at Hollis Hand or you can register early at threelife.churchcenter.com.

The three miles will go through the flower streets and then back up Country Club Road.

“This event, this new organization is something I am called to do,” Morgan said.

“I felt this on my heart when a close friend had cancer, and the Lord had called me to do something for her. I want to continue this for other families in our community.”

Morgan’s goal form this event is to raise at least $8,000.

“Even if somebody doesn’t want to do the challenge, we hope they still donate,” Morgan said.

“It is $20 to compete, but you can donate as much as you want.”

Morgan said they will send racers off in different waves to follow COVID-19 safety measures. There will also be temperature checks the morning of the event, and a safety questionnaire to fill out during registration.

For more information, contact Morgan or Buffy Mann via Facebook.