Color run set for 14th

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Reporter
 
The 21 Wellness Coalition, along with Newcastle High School Sources of Strength, is hosting its first Color Run on Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. starting at the Red, White and Blue Park. A color run is a run in which participants are showered with colored powder throughout their trek. 
“The purpose of the Color Run was to create something fun and uplifting that will bring community members together and to help get the word out about our coalition and Sources of Strength,” said Kristi Lipp, community prevention specialist. The wellness coalition is a community support group that provides prevention and aid to the people of Newcastle. 
According to Andrea Gregory, member of the coalition and Color Run Committee, Sources of Strength is a program in the high school to promote positivity and help students learn “coping skills” to get through difficult times, and the coalition wants to allow the community to become familiar with the eight elements of the Sources wheel. The eight sections of the Sources wheel are: family support, physical health, mental health, positive friends, mentorship, generosity, positive activity and spirituality.
“The run will have eight stations based off of the eight sections of the Sources of Strength wheel. Sources of Strength focuses on eight core strengths that help us to build resilience and that we can plug into to help us through hard times,” Lipp said. 
Zade Orsborn is a Sources of Strength peer leader and part of the run committee. He is excited to bring this event to the community to teach the community about the resources available to help through difficult times. 
“I think it’s a good activity for our community,” he said. 
Gregory encourages the community to come out to the run for a fun time and interact with other community members. The coalition is also striving to make the run an annual event, so they hope to receive a lot of support. 
“At the end of the color run we want to celebrate and highlight the amazing community members who fulfill the core strengths of the Sources wheel,” Lipp said. Games and activities will be occurring at the park as well for those who want to take part.
The fee to attend is $20 for adults, $10 for students and children 5 years of age and younger are free of charge. Cost of registration includes a T-shirt and sunglasses. An additional $1,500 was donated to the run by the Newcastle Rec Board to help offset costs. To register, go to 21wellnesscoalition.com or register the night of the event. Participants are welcome to “walk, run, push a stroller, ride their bike, whatever it is they prefer,” according to Lipp. The majority of the funds raised will go to Sources of Strength for continued campaigns and events.
“I encourage everyone to come out,” Gregory said. “It’s going to be a good event for everyone.”