The Color Run isn’t simply an event; it’s a vibrant explosion of joy, a celebration of community through the use of color. The Color Run was held on May 4th around the perimeter of Wayne Valley High School. This year’s theme was “Wave Goodbye to Cancer.” The fundraiser was run and organized by the Event Leadership Committee (ELT) Board, including Carrie Ann Farrell, Sarah McCarthy, Madison Rooney, Maya Gerstein, Skylar Perrius, and their adult advisor, Halle Baker. All the money that was raised from the Color Run, as well as any other fundraisers or events that were organized by this committee, goes toward finding a cure for cancer with the American Cancer Society.

In an interview with the ELT Board, when asked why the event was held, Maya Gerstein explained, “We decided to do the Color Run because we thought it would be a very fun and exciting activity to do to get everyone excited for our main event, which happened on May 17th! We have seen other clubs do something like this, and we thought it would be a fun and successful event for us to do, and it was!” The ELT Board was able to raise a total of $733 from this event. 

Before the event began, all participants were instructed to take a cup full of colorful powder of their choice as well as a cup full of blue powder in honor of Mr. Palczewski. The organizers then proceeded to give a speech explaining the significance of the event and the cause to raise money. At the end of their speech, they expressed that, “Today, we honor [Mr. Palczewski], not with silence or sadness, but with color, energy, and unity. We run, we walk, and we throw bursts of joy into the air because that’s what he would’ve wanted. To celebrate life. To build community. To keep going.” With this, all participants were told to toss their blue powder into the air, covering everyone in a bright hue of color, and the run began.  

Runners were encouraged to pick up cups of colored powder from stations set up around the front of the school so that they could douse one another with the colorful contents that were inside. Several upperclassmen organizers were also stationed at the back of the school, prepared to throw handfuls at anyone who passed by. At the event’s conclusion, all participants were covered head to toe in a rainbow’s worth of vibrant colors!