Register soon for Southwest Valley inaugural color run planned for April 11

On Saturday, April 11, a new community event is coming to Corning: a color run (and walking route too) to test area runners throughout the community. People of all abilities and ages are welcome to participate.
The two-mile route starts and ends at the Central Park square in Corning just north of downtown near the Corning Opera House with a shorter route for the walkers. The run and walk begin promptly at 9 a.m. with same day registration available until 8:45 that morning. Anyone registering prior to Wednesday, March 25, will receive a free t-shirt, as well. Participants may park at Central Park up until 8:30, when parking access will be closed.
The Southwest Valley High School Student Council and the National Honor Society are jointly hosting this run. The cost of registration is $25, with all proceeds going to the Thirst Project. This is an organization that uses 100% of their donations to help bring modern drinking systems (water towers, piping, etc.) to places in the world that still lack clean water. This is possible because a foundation pays for their organizational expenses. This is the second year that the two school groups have worked together to raise money for this worthy cause.
In a color run, there are stations along the route with powdered paint that is tossed on the runners as they go past those points, helping to dye the shirts they are wearing. These are popular across the United States and are safe for runners as well as not leaving any permanent mark on the streets that participants use. These are growing in popularity and Corning will be the latest to add this fun activity to their community.
“Our students were fortunate enough to present at the State Student Council Conference last fall on their fundraising efforts last year for the Thirst Project. Between a Middle School Coin War Challenge and an upcoming High School Volleyball Tournament as well as this event, we hope to continue to raise funds for a deserving cause as well as bring fun to our community. This is an idea they would like to try and we hope it is well supported. We encourage runners and walkers of all ages, elementary to our retirees, to come out on April 11 for this fun morning,” said Southwest Valley High School Student Council Advisor Mike Cormack. National Honor Society Advisor Rachel Campbell has also worked hard on organizing this event and hopes to see strong community support for the students’ positive fundraising activity.
Both advisors note that the students in these respective organizations are volunteering their time to help out their community and the Thirst Project to help others. Please feel free to come out to participate or simply observe at the park on that day. Donations from non-participants are also welcome.
The route will close off the streets around the square but does not go down either of the two main roads downtown, so those businesses will all be accessible during the run. Simply use other routes to access the downtown businesses from the south at that time. The route does not cross Iowa State Highway 148 nor does it go anywhere south of Adams/8th Street, anywhere north of 14th Street or anywhere east of Loomis Avenue that morning. There will be markers put up early that morning to designate the route and those markers will be picked up after the race.
Contact Mike Cormack at mcormack@southwestvalley.org or Rachel Campbell at rcampbell@southwestvalley.org with any questions or a pre-registration form, or call them at 641-322-4242.