Six weeks ago, Cortez Middle School physical education teacher Barbara Chappell approached CMS principal Jamie Haukeness with a unique fundraising idea that she believed would be a big hit.
What resulted from Chappell’s epiphany was the first annual “Fun in the Sun 5K Color Run,” which was held in Cortez on May 16 and attracted roughly 300 runners, who circled Parque de Vida while being showered with clouds of colorful corn starch.
“Ms. Chappell approached me about a possible fun run and we looked into doing a color run and it was a great idea,” said CMS principal Jamie Haukeness. “This was just tremendous.”
Chappell said that she originally anticipated that approximately 150 runners would compete in the event, but thanks to advertising and social media promotions and word of mouth, the event became much larger than she expected.
“We weren’t sure how big this would be and it really went out of control,” Chappell said. “Being a PE teacher at the middle school, fitness is huge to me and this run has been great for the community.”
Among the many runners who competed in the event was Dolores High School junior Brianna Milligin, who ran alongside several of her best friends and finished the day caked with colors.
“I enjoyed running with all of my friends and getting all colorful,” she said. “I would definitely do it again.”
Although it initially appeared that rainy weather might put a damper on the race, runners agreed that the wet conditions added to the experience by helping runners stay cool. Rain water also aided the spread of colors over white t-shirts worn by runners, which appeared tie-dyed by the race’s end.
“The rain made the colors run,” said CMS eighth grader Nanabah Sam. “I feel like a colorful rainbow person.”
While Chappell and Haukeness were unsure exactly how much money the race generated, they estimated profits to be somewhere between 2000 and 3000 dollars. Funds will be used to cover costs associated with CMS’s extracurricular activity programs.
“I just think it’s amazing that we have a community event like this,” said District RE-1 superintendent Alex Carter. “For people to come together and celebrate the beginning of summer…it’s a great thing. The money will go right back into funding the programs that are so hard for us to fund.”
As for the future of the Fun in the Sun 5K Color Run, Chappell said that similar runs will be organized on an annual basis in the years to come. More colored corn starch might also be ordered so that the event can accommodate more runners.
“We want to do this every year and every year it will get better and better,” Chappell said. “This event has been just great.”