After weeks of hard work and preparation from a dedicated team of volunteer organisers, the Future Hope MS Cootamundra Colour Run launched in emphatic fashion on Saturday, sending a wave of colour and emotion through the town.
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The highly anticipated event proved a resounding success with hundreds of locals and well-wishers turning out to support multiple sclerosis diagnosee Adam Barnes in funding his journey to Russia for life-changing stem cell therapy.
A 5km course with an assortment of “colour zones” painted a powdered rainbow across the Cootamundra Race Course whilst white-clad joggers soon found themselves anything but after repeated explosions of reds and blues filled the air.
Meanwhile, the serious runners took to the colourful course with aplomb, shooting off at a blistering pace before a fine finish from Matilda Bucknell saw her take home the 5km crown and a six-month membership to Ripped 24/7 Fitness for her efforts.
All in all, the Colour Run raised more than $3500 for the Barnes family, with runners, supporters and volunteers alike labelling it a fantastic achievement.
Adam’s mother Gaelene Barnes said the day was a “huge success” and that the family are hoping to make the Cootamundra Colour Run an annual event.
“We can’t thank everyone enough for coming, especially those volunteers who just turned up on the day to man the barbecue, throw paint and manage the entrants,” Mrs Barnes said.
We can't thank everyone enough for coming.
- Gaelene Barnes
“And huge thanks of course go to our wonderful MC on the day, Paul Frilay.”
An outpouring of accolades for the event flooded social media, with Facebook users labelling the event “awesome”, “fantastic”, and “amazing”, whilst a number of colourful snaps found their way onto Instagram and Snapchat singing praises for the event.
Whilst the Barnes family was thrilled with the attendance at the Colour Run, there is still plenty of fundraising to go in their quest to raise $100,000 for Adam’s groundbreaking overseas medical treatment.
The family are planning a variety of additional fundraisers in the upcoming months including a raffle with a $10,000 prize and a sausage sizzle to be held in May, whilst donations towards Adam’s treatment can still be made through Hayley Barnes.
For further information regarding future events and fundraisers, please contact Hayley on 0420 972 718.
