Jovina Stevens, 9, loves math, and her sister, Stanlyn, 12, enjoys playing basketball at William Byrd Middle School.

Louise Scere, 11, and her sister Aboitel, 8, are ready to start school at Herman L. Horn Elementary School.

Had their parents not immigrated to Roanoke, the four Liberian girls could still be in the refugee camp their families lived in for years.

Instead, they're living the dreams their parents had for them, and Monday afternoon, they supported the program that made their transition to American schools possible.

About 50 people registered for Commonwealth Catholic Charities' Labor of Love Walkathon.

Proceeds from the walk benefit the organization's school liaison program. Participants walked from Wasena Park to Smith Park, about one and a half miles. Board Chairman Charles Marlow estimated about $1,500 has been raised so far this year and expects more contributions to trickle in.

Partly funded by the Roanoke school system, the annual walk was started last year to raise money for the program that helps ease immigrants' transition into Roanoke schools.

"If you talk to any parent, they'll tell you they came here for their kids, so that they're safe and to give them a better future," said Beth Lutjen of Commonwealth Catholic Charities.

She said parents' main concern is providing their children with an education. The school liaison program helps parents understand big-picture issues such as school being mandatory and little things such as what school bus to catch and when.

Although the program isn't a requirement of their contract with the U.S. State Department to place refugees, it's something the group feels is necessary.

"You can't just drop these kids into school," Lutjen said.

The organization helps place about 200 refugees a year and is expecting another large group in October, Lutjen said. Most refugees now are coming from Nepal and Iraq.

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers spoke briefly at the event. "Wherever God plants you, we all have our love and duty to try and make life better for the children that come among us," he said.

Another service the organization offers is furnishing apartments for its clients. It will host a furniture drive to replenish its stock of mattresses, couches and televisions lost last month when its warehouse was struck by lightning and caught fire. Donors can drop off household furniture and kitchen items at 1106 Ninth St. S.E. in Roanoke on Oct. 2.