It seems like one of the best ways to get people in a great mood is to douse them with colour every few minutes while they’re walking or running, and give them the chance to support a good cause.
The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation hosted its second annual Colour My Foundation run-walk on Aug. 29 at Woodlawn Regional Park. Approximately 265 people participated in a five-kilometre jaunt through the park.
Many people showed up with colourful outfits, and were sporting face and body paint. There was a brief rally before the walk began, when the participants tossed bags of coloured powder into the air, ensuring they would be doused in colours before reaching the start line.
Participants were then doused with coloured powder by volunteers at five colour stations that were spread throughout the course. It ensured walkers and runners alike were sporting a variety of colours on their clothes, skin, faces and hair by the time they crossed the finish line.
The atmosphere was festive throughout the event.
“We’re very happy with how the event went,” said Becky Conly, the foundation’s executive director. “Everything was great. The weather was terrific. We had wonderful attendance. We had great sponsorships.”
Participants really appreciated there were so many colour stations, she said, because it gives them a lift to receive a blast of colour, after walking or running for nearly a kilometre in the heat.
The event raised approximately $25,000, as many of the participants collected more than the $40 required to be involved in the event. The goal was to raise the $20,000 that was needed for a new fetal heart monitor in the obstetrics (OBS) unit, and Conly is confident they reached that objective.
“We currently have three fetal heart monitors at the St. Joseph’s Hospital OBS department,” said Conly. “Two of them are nine years old, and one is 25 years old. The ones that are nine years old still work and they’re still okay, but they’re so behind in technology that it was time for an upgrade. We just really need to have these units to ensure the well-being of the mother and the baby when the mother goes into labour.”
If they raise more than $20,000, then Conly said they will talk to the OBS manager to see if there is anything else that can be purchased to go along with the fetal heart monitor.
“We want to try to keep that money in the OBS department because that is what we said we would do with the funds,” said Conly.
People were encouraged to enter as a team, and to show up in costume. A team of employees from the Estevan Regional Nursing Home won for the best-dressed entry, as they showed up in hospital gowns.
The number of participants is down from last year’s inaugural run-walk, when they had about 450 people enter, but that didn’t diminish Conly’s enthusiasm for the event. She hopes Colour My Foundation can remain an annual event in the Estevan area, and that people will continue to attend it and support the foundation.
