A local 15-year-old is racking up miles as he works to bring adoptive children to four local families, including his own.

Caleb Elliott will run 12 miles, two miles for each adoptive child, on Sept. 29 to raise money to help the families cover the fees associated with the adoption process. He’s running five miles a day to prepare for the event.

To gather pledges for his run, Caleb has been visiting local businesses and has gone door-to-door in area neighborhoods, already garnering about $500 of the couple thousand he hopes to contribute to the families’ expenses.

The adoption costs could come to a much as $110,000 combined for all four families, said Gretchen Elliot, Caleb’s mother.

“He’s a big heart kind of kid,” said Elliot. “He likes to take an interest. He’s always trying to think of ways to help other people.”

Caleb’s running has extra significance for his Elliot, who said that Caleb underwent open heart surgery when he was only six days old to repair a serious heart defect.

Nine Springfield businesses have already offered their support for the run. Caleb and the adoptive families will wear T-shirts with the supporters on the back at the event.

“The businesses were really supportive,” Caleb said.

Three of the families have been matched with adoptive children, including three children from the Philippines, a girl from Ethiopia, and a domestic adoption from Arizona. Three of the families will have seven children after the adoptions, and one will have six.

“People sometimes don’t understand why somebody would want to adopt, especially families with a lot of children already,” Elliot said. “There are a lot of children in need, and even if you don’t feel like you’re supposed to adopt, you can help others help these children by helping them financially, because the financial burdens are outrageous.”

Money donated for the six adoptions will be managed through the nonprofit AdoptTogether, to be divided equally among the families. The families have held other fundraisers for their adoptions, including garage sales, a softball tournament and an upcoming concert night.

Michele Bard, whose daughter from Ethiopia will be her third adopted child, said that the adoption process is a challenge worth the effort.

“You’re walking a road of unknowns and wondering how you’re going to pay for it,” she said. “But the journey is worth it, and there’s a whole community that will support you with it.”

Caleb said he started running a few years ago and recently won first place in a youth triathlon event, but he has never run a full 12 miles before. The run will start at First Christian Church and finish in front of the old children’s home in front of Springfield High School.

“It’ll be a challenge,” said Caleb. “I might have to walk a little bit, but I think I’ll get through it.”

He said that when his adopted sister arrives, it will be good to know that he helped bring her into the family.