With paint and good tunes flying through the air this June, the community of Harmony hosts its "Hues for Humanity" 5KM Colour Walk or Run.
Organizers hope to see more people coming out to enjoy the event in the Rocky View County community on June 15 while supporting a good cause.
“For me as an organizer, what we're trying to provide is a really fun family-oriented event where everyone can participate and have a good time, no matter how old or how young,” said Brian Lokhorst from Hues for Humanity.“There's music and prizes, and for a cost people can dress up in costumes and [win prizes for that]."
“We even have a prize for the best dressed dog, or pet, that comes along,” Lokhurst added.
People are encouraged to show up at 9:30 a.m. when the music starts going and at 10 a.m. the run kicks off with a massive group colour toss.
Everybody who registers gets two colour packs in their event bag, one for the first group toss and one for a group toss at the finish line. Lokhorst noted the colours are made of safe food grade powder.
The trail set out through Harmony is just over five kilometres, but participants can go for as far as they like, Lokhorst added.
Runners will pass through various colour stations, hosted by sponsors who each have a different way of interacting with participants.
The profits from the Hues for Humanity event support Real Humanitarian’s education, health, and empowerment initiatives in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Guatemala.
Real Humanitarian is a charity based in Medicine Hat, Lokhorst said, and their focus is on educational support for children and youth.
Some of their initiatives include supporting young women, providing clothes to students, vocational training, providing hot meals, and keeping students in their home communities.
“One of the really important things about the charity and what it manages to do so successfully is [providing] these very at-risk children a support structure beyond the poorest families in the neighbourhood,” Lokhorst said.
“What these centres provide is an advocate for the child and frankly, it's made a big difference.”
As a result of the program, the organization has recorded zero child marriages and teen pregnancies among those part of the program.
The first fundraising run for the organization took place in Medicine Hat, after which Lokhorst helped kick off the first Hues for Humanity run in Fort McMurray around ten years ago.
Lokhorst then chose to introduce the event to Harmony after moving there, and hopes it gains some traction in the community.
Real Humanitarian took Lokhorst to Ethiopia, which he said was life-changing.
“It was meaningfully life-changing for me to go there and see that and what they're doing and that's why I'm still committed to keeping these events going, even though I don't live in Fort McMurray anymore,” he said.
The run takes place on June 15 in Harmony. To find out more about the run or how to register, go to realhumanitarian.ca/events.
