<strong>From staff reports</strong>

The 9th annual Race4Love, presented by Stokes Toyota of Beaufort, will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 on Cat Island.

This year, the host, Hopeful Horizons, is limiting the number of runners who can participate.

Also, a new event, the Candlelight Walk4Love, will begin at 5:15 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19 at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Beaufort. The walk will be limited to 50 people.

Participants will walk from the church to the bridge and light up the bridge with battery-powered candles to honor abuse survivors.

Of course, this year there will be COVID-19 considerations:

Masks and physical distancing will be required;

There will be no onsite registration. Participants must pre-register;

There will not be an in-person awards ceremony. Winners will be announced on Facebook and listed on Race4Love.com. Awards may be picked up at Grounded Running.

“We are grateful for the sponsors and volunteers who have come together once again to support the Race4Love – and the addition of the Walk4Love,” Hopeful Horizons CEO Kristin Dubrowski said in a release. “Survivors of abuse need the support of the entire community, especially in 2021, and this is one way you can show your support and help to raise awareness.”

Prizes will be given to the top two males and females overall, and medals will go to the top three in each age division. All children age 9 and younger will receive medals. Prizes will also be awarded for the best stroller, the speediest dog, and a new award for the most unique mask.

The Race4Love has its origins in the Tate/Coursen Memorial Walk/Run that was organized by Marie Tate in 2012. The event honored Lance Cpl. Dana Tate and Cpl. Dyke “A.J.” Coursen, two Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies who were killed when responding to a domestic violence call in 2002.

Marie Tate, Lance Cpl. Dana Tate’s widow, is still actively involved in Race4Love.

For more information on the 9th annual Race4Love/Walk4Love and to register, visit www.race4love.com.

Hopeful Horizons is a children's advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center that works to create safer communities by changing the culture of violence and offering a path to healing. The organization provides safety, hope and healing to survivors through evidence-based practices, outreach, prevention and education.

Hopeful Horizons serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper and Allendale counties. For more information, visit www.hopefulhorizons.org.