INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A serious crowd it was not at the Color Me Rad 5K race where thousands of people ran and walked along a course rife with dousing stations where they were bombarded by packets of every color of the rainbow, consequently giving them a renewed psychedelic look in their athletic garb.
The event held Saturday at Pointe West raised nearly $20,000 for the Senior Resource Center.
Plumes of pink, red, purple, green and blue rose up into the sky as people followed the typical format of the Color Me Rad races – showing up in white clothes to subject to color bombs until everything including the skin turns out silkscreened casting off a look reminiscent of a tie-dyed hippy. The powder is a non-toxic, non-rash inducing Kroger branded colored cornstarch.
Among those who turned out in full regalia were the so-called “Cupid Boys” donning briefs, wings on their backs and a vine headband, and proudly sporting their freshly colored look. Also, some pigtailed 20-somethings in tube socks, t-shirts and shorts giggled after a dash through six coloring stations along the race route.
“I get bored running regular races,” mused 22-year-old Rebecca Ciufu, who schlepped from Ft. Pierce with her friends to participate. “This is so much more fun!”
Color Me Rad social media director Emily Hutchinson dodged liquid color packets being tossed at those mingling on the sidelines along a large grassy field, and explained the general vibe.
“Getting colored with soft sweet colors is a fun time. There’s not a lot of pressure at these races. You go at your own speed, take lots of pictures and then you have a sort of badge-of-honor at the end of it with your colored clothes.”
The Vero Beach race was one of 100 Color Me Rad events scheduled this year in the U.S. and Canada, she added.
Karen Deigl, president and CEO of the Senior Resource Association, was grateful on behalf of seniors for the wide show of support. Looking around at the crowd produced within 90 days of advertising the event, she said it “exceeded our expectations.”
The upbeat event satisfied a social urge for participants, but it also helped the population of elders themselves, who are badly in need of certain programs.
“There are many moms, dads and grandparents we want to take care of,” she said pleased at the turnout of 3,500 participants. The SRA has already locked down a 2nd annual Color Me Rad event for next year to help raise money for its programs.
The Senior Resource Association is a non-profit organization that promotes independence and dignity in the community by providing services to older adults and serves as the county’s transportation provider for anyone’s needs. Some of its programs include Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Services, Social Congregate Meals, and In-Home Services.