Color run raises money, brightens spirits
Eleanor Sadler / Staff Writer
Colored powder coated the streets, painted the air and caked the smiling faces of runners at Kappa Kappa Gamma’s first annual Kolor Run on Sunday morning.
About 345 people participated in the 5-kilometer run to support recreation and leisure studies junior Beka Gaston, who is undergoing treatment for stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Cuck Fancer, a nonprofit group benefitting young adults with cancer.
Lori Gaston, Beka’s mother, said it was special and encouraging to see the community turn out for an important cause.
“As [Beka] enters into this last leg of her second treatment, if her spirits start to wane, she’s got the support of all the people that came out here and took the time out of their day, their hard-earned money and came to support her,” she said. “This is a real public way of saying ‘Hey, Beka, we are right here with you.’”The run raised about $8,000, most of which will go to Gaston and her family to help cover medical costs and other expenses, said hospitality junior Kylie Mauer, who coordinated the run. About $1,500 of the proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit.
Biology senior Jazmine Simmons, whose white shirt picked up a rainbow assortment of shades throughout the run, said the event was a fun to way to support a fellow student.
“I liked getting splashed with the colors, the different colors – that was fun,” she said.
The run wasn’t limited to students, and participants of every age made their way around the UNT campus. Eco-friendly powder was thrown after every kilometer, with different colors marking each waypoint.
The powder struck runners randomly, creating unique designs on clothing and white T-shirts designed specifically for the event.
Many runners wearing flamboyant tutus added to the whimsical atmosphere of the run.
Vibrant runners, tie-dyed from head to toe, smiled and cheered every time a new colored concoction was thrown.
Kappa Kappa Gamma hopes to make the run an annual event to continue to spread awareness and give support to those battling cancer at a young age.
It’s also an excuse to have some fun.
“I think everyone had a lot of fun, and I think it went really well,” Beka Gaston said. “It was definitely a good day for it.”
There are no comments at the moment, do you want to add one?
Write a comment