Heroes on the Run: Montgomery Child Advocacy Project to hold 5K

The other day a news report came out of Dauphin County about a five-month-old baby that was near death after being left alone for days in a feces-covered apartment in Hershey. The baby’s mother and sole caregiver was charged with a felony count of child endangerment.

In Delaware County, parents were charged in the “near fatal” abuse of their 1-year-old twins. The parents allegedly starved one medically fragile baby, and caused a near-fatal head injury on the other twin.

Sadly, these were just the latest of news reports that come across the wire about the atrocities that are done to children. Kids being abused physically, emotionally, sexually…it’s really unimaginable that such evil can be done to the most innocent in our society.

But the sad fact is that for some kids, life is a nightmare — a reality that seems too horrible to be true.

And while that poor baby was in Dauphin County and those twin babies were Delaware County, here, in Montgomery County — help would be available for that baby’s best interest. The Montgomery Child Advocacy Project is always ready, eager to help the most vulnerable, and often times voiceless, victims of our community.

Now in its 20th year, MCAP has represented a staggering number of children, well over 10,000 victims.

“In the past 20 years, we have helped over 10,000 children in almost 7,000 cases. Helping keep kids safe is possible if everyone participates,” said Mary C. Pugh, Esq. executive director of MCAP.

The nonprofit was incorporated in 2004 by Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Judge Risa Vetri Ferman. At the time both women were prosecutors with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, and saw first-hand the atrocities that could be done to children. Professional attorneys volunteer their time “to advocate for child victims of abuse, neglect, and trafficking in the courts and social services agencies.”

MCAP provides legal services (“Our volunteer attorneys are the heart and soul of our work as they donate their time, resources, and expertise to help give a voice to a fragile, at-risk

child”); advocacy (“We advocate for victims of child abuse, neglect, and trafficking with the goals of ensuring safety, justice, and a permanent, nurturing environment for each child”); and education (“We help to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and educate members of the legal community.”)

MCAP represents kids from birth to 18 in every

court in Montgomery County — juvenile, family, criminal and orphans courts and from every borough, township and municipality in Montgomery County from every socio-economic group. In 2023, according to deputy executive director Mary Anders, MCAP had 765 children referred to them in 565 cases.

According to the MCAP website, the volunteers “represent children in all the legal arenas in Montgomery County, and processes all of their background checks and clearances. MCAP then assigns them to cases referred to us by the District Attorney, the courts, the Public Defender, Mission Kids (forensic interviewer), or law enforcement.”

While MCAP is powered by volunteer efforts, it does take a bit of financing to keep the organization viable. To help with those costs and to raise awareness of the organization and the good that comes from it, MCAP holds a fundraisers. This year’s event is the inaugural Heroes on the Run — a 5K run (or 1-mile fun run/walk) through Norristown Farm Park.

“This is MCAP’s 20th Anniversary and we celebrate the children we serve and volunteer lawyers who help them,” Pugh said. “MCAP has hosted a race as a fundraiser and community “fun-raiser” for the past 15 years. By hosting the races, we invite community members to support

abused, neglected, and trafficked children and families in our pursuit to prevent abuse and trauma. Everyone has a role to play to keep kids safe and together we can keep kids safe. People want to help and participating in the race is one way to help.”

According to MCAP website: “All proceeds go to MCAP’s ongoing efforts to give vulnerable children a voice while they heal from the horrific effects of abuse and neglect.”

The event is a family-friendly festival with face painting, snacks, music and games after the race, which begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 23.

To register for the event visit https://runsignup. com/Race/PA/Norristown/ HEROESONTHERUN5K. Registration ends the day of the race. The website also features ways to donate for folks who can’t make the race as well as additional information about MCAP and the services it provides.

As an added bonus, racers may get to meet MCAP’s MVE — Most Valuable Employee.

“Our best employee is Nutmeg, our two-year-old Goldendoodle who is a therapy dog,” Anders said. Nutmeg “accompanies kids and stays with them when being interviewed by law enforcement, DA’s office or have to testify in court.”

For more information on MCAP, visit https:// runsignup.com/Race/ PA/Norristown/HEROESONTHERUN5K

FILE PHOTO Last year’s MCAP race was themed “Run for the Hill of It” at Forbidden Drive, which is part of the Fairmount Park system in Chestnut Hill.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MCAP Nutmeg, a Goldendoodle comfort dog acquired by the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project, is considered MCAP’s “best employee.”

PHOTO BY CARL HESSLER JR. Mary C. Pugh, executive director of MCAP, addresses crowd at the “Wear Blue on the Steps” for Child Abuse Prevention Month event last April