Sumner HS Students Bring 5K Color Fun Walk/Run to Town Sept. 21

On September 21, Sumner High School's Leadership will be turning Sumner TEMPORARILY more colorful for a very good cause.  The Color Fun Walk/Run will raise money for Jordan Swarthout.  Jordan graduated from Sumner High School in 2010 and was involved in soccer, basketball, FFA, and Spart Crew.  A junior at Oregon State University, she had to put her academic plans on hold to undergo treatment for Stage 3E Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer that affects lymph nodes. 

Headed by Sumner students, this event raises money to help with her medical expenses.  The fundraiser is a bit different than usual-it's a 5K Color Fun Walk/Run.  Bigger cities have held similar events in which participants wear white t-shirts and as they walk or run through the route, get color dust thrown at them.  In the end, they and their t-shirt are quite colorful. 

The students have been working with the City of Sumner to maximize the success and minimize the impact of this event.  "Throwing" stations are at the Daffodil Valley Sports Complex, Seibenthaler Park, the High School, and Loyalty Park.  The dust is a biodegradable colored corn-based powder, similar to corn starch.  They will throw on the grass to keep our stormwater clear, but you will see colorful grass from some time in these parks.  Please also be aware that if there's any breeze, the colored dust could travel to other amenities in the park including benches and playground equipment.  We don't want any other users of the parks to be surprised by this unique, and temporary, addition. 

The high school's girls soccer team will clean up after the event, but Sumner may be a bit more colorful than usual for a few days.  If you have any questions about event and its clean up or want to sign up to participate, please contact John Norlin at 253-736-4242.