WRITTEN BY EMILY TUTTLE

We are excited to share some highlights from one of the most anticipated events of the year at Casa Bernabé, our annual 5K Race! Held just outside Guatemala City in the beautiful outdoor village of Cayalá, this race has become a tradition for our children and staff, and this year’s event was one of our best yet.

Thanks to an incredible promotional effort by our PR team in Guatemala, the race was completely sold out with over 500 participants registered to run. Local churches across the country joined in to support the cause, creating an event that not only raised critical funds for Casa Bernabé but also brought joy, encouragement, and a spirit of unity to all who attended.

This year's theme was: Yo corro para que vuelen (I run so they can fly). Each person who signed up to run knew they were doing it to support kids who have been dealt a difficult hand in life, and this event offers the chance to run alongside them by providing support to Casa Bernabé.

Our day began bright and early. At 5:45 AM, three vans and a bus rolled out of Casa Bernabé filled with all the kids and staff, many of whom were excited just to be off-campus for the day. Everyone at CB, from the youngest to the oldest with all levels of physical ability, participated in the race. Each runner received a race kit that included a backpack, hat, T-shirt, bib, towel, and a little Coke to keep their energy high.

Stretches kicked off at 7:15 AM, led by a familiar face—Juanelo, our former soccer coach. The kids were ecstatic to see him again! By 7:30 AM, we were off and running (or walking, scootering, biking, and stroller-pushing). The racecourse looped through five one-kilometer laps through Cayalá. If you've never been to Cayalá, imagine a cute European village meeting an upscale outdoor shopping mall, so it's a nice place to spend a morning (except for the hills!).

Even the dogs got in on the fun and provided some snuggles to anyone who needed a break from running.

One of the best parts of the morning was the way the children cheered each other on and encouraged our staff members to finish the race. Our Team Coordinator, Marleigh, said throughout the race each kid who ran next to her yelled, “¡Vamos, Marleigh!” (Let's go Marleigh!) and “¡Tú puedes!” (You can do it!) One of our house moms, Meylin, said one of the girls from her house ran alongside her the whole way, holding her hand and urging her not to give up.

We’re also proud to announce that one of our very own–one of the older boys from Casa Nueva Esperanza–took second place overall! He has been training regularly on campus, inspired by his house dad, Mario, who is an avid runner. His dedication was inspiring for all of us to see.

At the finish line, there were prizes for the winners. Everyone received a medal, and the little ones wore theirs with pride, showing them off to anyone who would look. For many of the kids, this day was not just about the race, but about being seen, supported, and celebrated.

Thank you so much to each of you who prayed for the race day and those of you who contributed by sponsoring one of our kids or staff to run. Not only did the race raise crucial funds for Casa Bernabé, it also created lasting memories and a confidence-building experience for the kids in our care. Doing something hard like this as a community and collectively finishing the race builds so much strength in everyone at Casa Bernabé and prepares us to face future challenges together.