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Photo courtesy of John Milton.
Participants from the 2019 Color Run. The event has grown each year since it began in 2013.
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Oak Mountain Color Run info.
The Oak Mountain Color Run is entering its eighth year and is scheduled for March 7 at Oak Mountain State Park.
The first run was in 2013 and was an idea of former Oak Mountain High School students Mollie Shealy and Mandy Kelly as a way to honor their grandparents who died from cancer. Shealy lost her grandfather, and Kelly lost her grandmother.
The run has grown each year, and last year, $45,000 was raised for cancer research. All of the profits are donated to the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. It was also a way to impact the community and help find a cure for cancer.
The event has surpassed the $100,000 mark for money raised. Teacher John Milton, who is over the Student Government Association at OMHS, said the founders are still grateful and that he uses their story to relay to the students the importance of their motivation.
“Mandy and Molly’s inspiring story fueled everything else,” Milton said. “It’s not hard to get motivated for it. It’s a great cause, and I think it’s unique that it’s continued for eight years. It’s credit to the consistency of students like Hannah Kelley. It shows the kind of servant leader she is.”
The event is run by the SGA and led by students. Kelley is the Color Run chair for this year’s race and will be the point person to more than 100 student volunteers. She has been planning the event since last May, handling securing sponsorships and much more.
Even though it’s months of hard work, Kelley said she is glad to have been in charge of the run and has learned it so much from doing it.
“Having a connection with an uncle who passed away from cancer makes me even more driven to do it for the right reasons,” she said. “I knew what I was getting into.”
Milton said the students do everything from setup to finish, and the event wouldn’t happen without them. Each of the 52 members in SGA is responsible for raising $300, and the only cost to the SGA is the paint.
The event has grown each year, and last year more than 500 runners participated. It will feature a 5K run and 1-mile fun run. Registration is $25 for the 5K and $15 for the mile. Race shirts can be purchased, but if not, white shirts are suggested so the paint colors will show up.
The entrance fee to Oak Mountain State Park is $5 for adults (ages 12 and older), $2 for children ages 4-11 and $2 for seniors 62 and older. Ages 3 and younger are free.
The timeline for the day begins at 8 a.m. with registration, opening ceremonies at 8:50 a.m., the 5K run at 9 a.m. and the fun run at 10 a.m. Walk-ups are welcome but will need to have cash or a check made out to Oak Mountain High School. Following the race, a variety of food trucks and vendors will be on site.
For more information and registration, visit oakmountaincolorrun.com.