A 5K race set for May 31 at Leavitt Area High School in Turner will raise money for the family of a 12-year-old hurt while skiing last month.

Eli Leavitt was seriously injured March 8 after going off Lower Allagash Trail at Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford after competing for the Chisholm Area Race Team. He remains at a Portland hospital.

The 5K’s organizer, Dalila Dube, a senior at the high school, says she and her family have a special bond with the Leavitts, as Dube’s youngest sibling Carter plays lacrosse with Eli.

When she heard that Eli had been hurt, she knew she had to do something.

That’s how Eli’s Race for Recovery 5K was born.

“We’ve known the Leavitts for a long time,” Dube said. “To see something this tragic happen to such a wonderful family, I wanted to show them that we and the community are behind them.”

The 5K takes place at 9 a.m. May 31 in the high school parking lot. There will be food and music following the race, along with a raffle. All proceeds will go toward the family’s medical bills.

Dube said she’s hoping to raise $10,000, a number that she believes is manageable with help from the Turner community.

“The community has been very supportive, especially those at MSAD 52 and the staff,” she said. “I’ve reached out to so many of my teachers for help, and they’ve gone out of their way just to make this happen. I have friends who’ve told me this is their first 5K. It shows that they’re not running the 5K just to run it, but because they want to show their love and support for the Leavitts.”

Dalila is no stranger to fundraisers, growing up in a community-driven family. Her mother Nikki and father, Adam, have organized disc golf fundraisers for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and veterans causes.

“We’re very proud of her,” Nikki Dube said. “She’s a very busy senior, but she said she wanted to spearhead this and do this all on her own. It’s great to see how much she cares about her community, especially those that we personally know.”

For help with the race, Dube reached out to Dustin Williamson, a teacher and the nordic ski coach for Leavitt Area High School.

Williamson is an organizer of the Roy Varney Hornet Classic, an annual 5K race held at the school every January in honor of a standout skier who died in 2019.

“Though I do not know Eli Leavitt, this is a great community and this event is the definition of what a community event is,” Williamson said. “We do what we can to help out, and will always come out when it’s someone like the Leavitts.”

By taking on the fundraiser, he said, Dube shows just how much she cares for those around her.

“It’s incredible and for a high school student to be part of this and is a testament to who Dalila really is,” Williamson said.

Forty people have signed up for the race so far; Dube expects about 150. She also says she’s continuing to look for sponsorships for the event.

Eli’s Race for Recovery 5K can be found at runtheday.com. Sponsors can reach out to Adam Dube on Facebook.