Brookwood Florida-East, a home for teen girls that have been abused, neglected and abandoned in Coral Springs, is offering people in the community an opportunity to sweat for a worthy cause.

The non-profit will organize its fourth annual 5K "Steps to Independence" walk/run on Oct. 18 at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. For the group home, much hinges on the success of the event as state funding has come down substantially following budget cuts.

Brookwood site director Stacy Constantine is hoping for a good turnout at the event. “Last year, we raised about $13,000. This year, we are hoping to raise at least $20,000. We hope to get sponsors as well. All the money raised from the event goes directly to the 14 girls that we have here.”

“The deficit per day per child is between $30 to $40 after the money that we get from the State was reduced,” Constantine said. “We give the girls everything they need; it takes a lot of money. Any help that we can get from the community is great. We look for small grants too.”

The girls in the group home have been abused mentally or physically, neglected or abandoned. “They are all in the 13 to 18 age group; some of them stay here for years,” Constantine said. “This becomes home for them; you can see their behavior changing with time. We teach them social skills, job skills, education sills. The idea is to get them ready for independent living.”

Register for the event by calling 954-757-3833, visiting www.nwbrr.com or by turning up at Quiet Waters Park at 7 a.m. on Oct. 18.