The Color Dash is a Minnesota-based organization whose mission is to raise local money for local causes.
The Color Dash is coming to Rhinelander for a 5K run in August to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin. Big Brothers and Big Sisters provides professionally-supported one-to-one mentoring services, serving 450 childen in nine northern counties including Oneida, Vilas, and Price.
Mary Kinnunen of Big Brothers Big Sisters says this family-friendly 5K race is very different than most fundraising races....
"....at 5 stations "Dasher Splashers" douse you, gently, with food-grade colored corn starch. So by the end of the race you are, in official Color Dash language, I'm quoting, 'you will look like a bag of Skitttles'...."
The group started with one race in the Twin Cities, and now do Color Dash races across the country to support non-profits....
"...we're lucky to get it in the Northwoods...it's a big deal. It's a lot of fun. They split the money 50-50 with the non-profit and the non-profit gets all of the sponsorship money. We look at growing Big Brothers and Big Sisters in the Northwoods. The Color Dash is going to help fund that...."
The event is August 23 at Rhinelander High School. Kinnunen says the organization is pleased to be partnering with the Rhinelander School District this fall. The Big Brother or Big Sister will go to the school and meet with the child one time per week for an hour while school is in session. The organization also partners with the Northland Pines and Medford school districts.
Registration information is on the website thecolordash5k. com or on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsinwebsite.
