Throw kindness like confetti ... or chalk
Sources of Strength student leaders, pictured, are hosting the inaugural Sources of Strength Color Run at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The run is being held to promote healthy and happy living in local youth as well as provide a family-friendly day for the community. (Courtesy photo)
Wilson
COEUR d’ALENE — A wheel of eight colors represent mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality and medical access.
On Saturday, those colors will be all over the Kootenai County Fairgrounds for the inaugural Sources of Strength Color Run.
"A color run is different," race director and Coeur d'Alene School District Sources of Strength coordinator Azure Wilson said Tuesday. "It is not about running, but more about building connections and having fun. The colors also help us connect to the program."
Sources of Strength is a student-led movement to prevent suicide at the student population level. It's one of the first programs to use peer leaders to enhance protective factors associated with suicide prevention. About 600 students at five Coeur d'Alene schools — Coeur d'Alene and Lake City high schools; Canfield, Lakes and Woodland middle schools — are active with the program, but Wilson said it is the goal to "touch every student with the positiveness that grows from the interactions students have."
"It is important that our community know that we are working hard to educate our student body, but it is also fun to share what we are doing with them," said Wilson, who also teaches at Woodland. "A color run just seemed to fit in bringing our community together."
The most colorful part of this run will be the chalk. Certified organic biodegradable colored chalk will be distributed to participants to add to the fun. For extra pop of colors, be sure to wear white.
The color run is free to all children younger than 18 with the suggested donation of at least one can of food to support the food bank. Registration is $15 for adults.
Shirts will be available for $15 and personal bags of chalk will be $3.
The 1.5 mile walk/run race goes from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way.
"I want people to walk away knowing that we are a family," Wilson said. "This community has so many resources to offer no matter where you are in life. That we can support one another, help one another through all of life."
Register at: www.cdaschools.org/colorrun