Over 200 students, faculty and community members participated in Shippensburg’s first ever color run on Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. Colleges Against Cancer held the event at Shippensburg Township Park to fundraise for Relay for Life.
The 5K race was held on a track so that four laps equaled 3.1 miles. Not only runners participated, as there were many joggers and walkers, and a young boy even rode a scooter.
As the participants passed back through the starting point, volunteers for Colleges Against Cancer threw different colored powder that represented types of cancer on the participants.
Though a majority of participants were Shippensburg University students, community members from early childhood to late adulthood took part in the color run as well.
This is the first time Shippensburg has had a color run, but the event ran smoothly. The sun was out and the temperature was in the 50s on Saturday, which proved to be great running conditions.
With so many participants, it was difficult to record participant numbers and times, according to SU’s Colleges Against Cancer President Jimmy Thren.
Thren said the organization wanted to hold a big spring event before Relay for Life, the 12-hour event in the Rec Center on April 19 and 20.
“We wanted to do something fun and really relate to college students, but at the same time do it for a really good cause,” Thren said.
The event was smaller than most color runs, and it was much cheaper. A $15 pre-registration fee included a shirt while other color runs cost about $65 to register, member Brittani Procknow said.
Runners did not need a team to participate, though some registered with others and created group names.
Shane Spratford placed first. Second place finisher was Kevin Fenninger while third place went to community member Jill Hazelton.
Prizes donated by the American Cancer Society were awarded to the Top 3 contestants. They could choose from many Relay for Life themed items, such as a backpack and beverage cooler.
Throughout the event, participants signed a banner with their reason for “Why I Relay,” with most citing family or friends who have or had cancer.
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