Our Lady of Lourdes Church is hosting the first “Walk by Faith” 3K Walkathon on May 20. The walkathon is being held to promote healthy lifestyles in the community and to raise funds for educating 150 children in the Atlanta church’s sister parish, Our Lady of Fatima, in Lafossett, Haiti.

Haiti is arguably the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has the highest rate of infant mortality among the Caribbean countries. Lafossett is located in northwest Haiti in the heart of the city of Cap-Haitian, the second largest city in the country. Many citizens of Haiti suffer ills related to malnutrition, lack of electricity and plumbing, and limited educational opportunities for children.

Our Lady of Fatima was founded on May 13, 2000, and “twinned” with Our Lady of Lourdes, Atlanta, in October 2004. Although the parish has many needs, educational assistance is a major priority. Through the twinning program, Lourdes has provided assistance in the amount of $13,000 to purchase tiles for church renovation, benches and books for the school, salaries for teachers, and more. The church is planning to raise $10,000, which will be made available in Haiti for educating 150 children for two years, paying teacher salaries, and building two classrooms.

The walkathon will begin at 10 a.m. in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, which is located at 25 Boulevard, NE. Participants will travel on Boulevard to Freedom Parkway, using the bikers’ path toward Moreland Ave. and back to Boulevard.

Following the walkathon, the church will sponsor a health and fitness expo in the back parking lot.

Registrations, donations and pledges in support of the walkers are currently being accepted at the church. Before May 13, the registration fee is $15 for adults, $10 for children 17 and younger, and $100 for groups of 8. After May 13—including onsite registration—fees are $20 for adults, $12 for children 17 and younger, and $110 for groups of 8. Family discounts are available only up to May 13 for $40 for a family of 4 and $50 for a family of 5 or more. The registration fees include a T-shirt. There will be prizes, giveaways, goodie bags and more provided on the day of the walkathon.

Registration forms, pledge sheets, and sponsor/donor forms can be downloaded from the Lourdes Web site at www.lourdesatlanta.org.

Tax-deductible donations can also be mailed to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, c/o Walk By Faith 3K Walkathon, 25 Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Please make checks payable to Our Lady of Lourdes Sister Parish.