Everything may seem a little dull and grey at the moment, but that’s all the more reason to look forward to a colourful summer, with entries now open for a charity’s Colour Run and Family Fun Day in June.
Organised by Harry’s Rainbow, the Milton Keynes-based children’s bereavement charity, the annual event is an excellent opportunity for youngsters to do their bit to raise funds for a worthy cause.
There’s already a full squad of runners preparing for the Festival of Running in the city next month, but once the ‘serious’ run is over, attention turns to preparations for the Colour Run where everyone, from babies in pushchairs up to active grandparents can join in the excitement and raise funds to help Harry’s Rainbow carry on its good work.
Local companies Brioche Pasquier and The Good Gym MK have already offered their support and over the next few months it is hoped more businesses and organisations will get involved.
The charity was founded by Odette Mould after the death of her five-year-old son Harry in 2009, and raises money to provide support to children and young people in Milton Keynes who have lost a parent or sibling. Harry was a twin and it was after seeing the effect Harry’s death had on his sister Jessica, that Odette and her family decided to set up the charity to help other children in the same position.
And, as the charity became established, it was Jessica who came up with the idea of the Colour Run. Odette explained:
“We started putting a team together for the Festival of Running, but it was too far for Jessica at the time and she wanted to find something she could do in memory of Harry.
“To begin with, we started organised a one-mile run around the grounds of the church where Harry is buried. Since then, we’ve moved to Wolverton Recreation Ground because of numbers and, in the past couple of years it has become a Colour Run.
“It’s still a one-mile course, with a half-mile version for those who prefer, and children can do it on their own if they want to as they are always in sight of their parents and it’s a marked course with marshals, but we do encourage the whole family to get involved.”
Entry to the Colour Run and Family Fun Day, which will take place at Wolverton Recreation Ground on June 15, is £8 per child or £28 for a family of four, although there is an Early Bird price of £7 per child or £24 for a family of four for those who sign up before February 19. Children are encouraged to fundraise, with all those raising over £100 getting a goody bag, and the child raising the highest amount will receive a Smyths toy voucher. There will be a non-colour route for those who prefer, and plenty of stalls and refreshments, so everyone will get the opportunity to make it a fun family day out.
The organisers are also hoping that more local businesses and organisations will step in with sponsorship to enable as much money as possible to go into the Harry’s Rainbow funds. Odette said:
“We’re having new eco-friendly medals designed this year and the ribbons can include the logos of any partners who want to help fund that. We’ve also got opportunities to showcase partners on the race numbers, around the course or on the flyers we’ll be putting out to promote the event, so it is a fantastic way to get involved in a brilliant community event if any local business can help us. Patisserie firm Brioche Pasquier and The Good Gym MK have already stepped in as partners, and we hope more local businesses will take this opportunity to support such a good cause.
“The Colour Run has become a firm fixture on our calendar and raises money to help children dealing with loss, so the more people we can get involved and the more we can raise, the more we can do to help.”
Visit the Harry’s Rainbow website at www.harrysrainbow.co.uk to enter the Colour Run and Family Fun Day.
