Sequim Gazette staff

A five-kilometer run/walk, a fundraiser for the Hailey Freeman family, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.

 

Hailey Freeman, 8, died of an unexpected illness, most likely pneumonia, on April 7.

 

Registration is $20; all proceeds go to the Freeman family, which is struggling with the emotional and financial costs of Hailey’s illness and death. The treatment included a helicopter flight from Port Angeles to Children’s Hospital in Seattle.

 

Dave Freeman, Hailey’s dad, said the family may make it an annual event, with future funding perhaps going to help children who have lost their parents.

 

“Something to help the kids,” he said.

 

Register online by Sept. 13 at www.active.com/running/sequim-wa/run-for-hailey-2012. All fitness levels are welcome.

 

Those registering the day of the race should be at the start by 9 a.m.

 

The Freemans, Dave and Amber and their son Isaac, will participate.

 

The event was put together by Jennifer McKeller, who helps run the children’s music program at Sequim Community Church.

 

Before her death, Hailey participated in the music program.

 

“Hailey was a special child from a special family and I hope the community turns out to support them now,” McKeller said.

 

The event is sponsored by Jason and Tracy Wilwert from Sequim Physical Therapy.

 

For more information, call McKeller at 461-9584.