Is there anything worse that the feeling of helplessness? That sense of being unable to help someone you love is what the parents of 3-year-old Jacob Helvey felt for what seemed like an eternity as they watched their son struggle under an elevator on Dec. 24, 2010. In reality, the tragic event that left the toddler trapped lasted 15 minutes until the Forsyth County Sheriff and Fire Department arrived and used the Jaws of Life to remove the weight that was pressed on his body. During that time, Jacob was unable to breathe and it was feared he wouldn’t survive. But thanks to the quick response of emergency services and a miracle, he is still alive and struggling to recover.

So now, the Helvey family is counting on another miracle: the generosity of others.

The family has formed an organization called Jacob’s Journey and is organizing a 5K Race for a Miracle event to help raise money for medical costs. The event will take place on March 5 at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. The deadline to register online is March 1 and is limited to 1,000 participants. The registration fees are $30 for adults and $20 for kids. All of the proceeds go toward helping Jacob on his long road to recovery.

The 5K Race for a Miracle will begin at 9 a.m. at the WFHS entrance so that participants may pick up their free t-shirts and race numbers. The actual race begins promptly at 10 a.m. and will conclude with food and activities.

If you are part of a company that would like to sponsor the race, opportunities are available. For only $500, companies can be featured on the backs of all the t-shirts handed out to participants and show that they care about the local community. The deadline for corporate sponsorship is Feb. 24.