If you were anywhere near Sea Cows Bay on Saturday afternoon, there is a good chance you were seeing pink.
The event raised more than $15,000 for the free mammogram programme.
“We still have some donations to trickle in,” organiser Lisa Adamson said. “We are thrilled with the total. We are receiving such amazing feedback. I still have people telling me that they were sorry they missed it and for sure next year they will make it.”
For the past seven years, Ms. Adamson and her husband Mike have organised similar events in an effort to provide free mammograms to women in the territory.
This year, Ms. Adamson got the idea to host the colour me run from a “friend of a friend,” who was attending one of her spin classes. After watching a few YouTube videos of similar events and doing a little research, she thought the run would be a success here.
And she was right.
“It is completely different and it had never been done in the BVI,” Ms. Adamson said.
Prior to the race, participants wearing white T-shirts took on a new colour in a process similar to tarring and feathering, which involved spraying each other with water guns and throwing pink powder everywhere.
As the race started, the powder and water continued to be strewn about. At times, the event resembled a j’ouvert or India’s Festival of Colours, rather than a running race.
The course started at Sensus Health Club’s parking lot at Manual Reef and headed to Palestina where participants turned around and headed back to the start/finish line.
Throughout the run, participants were motivated with music being played by deejay Bertrum Lettsome from the back of a truck. Next year, Ms. Adamson is considering having two trucks with music — one in the front of the runners and one in the back.
“Having the music really did help,” Ms. Adamson said, who was at the back of the truck dancing and encouraging participants throughout event. “It was really, really good, even going over the speed bumps holding on to everything.”
Organisers bought more than 600 three-ounce packets of pink cornstarch powder that were sold to participants. More than 500 packets were sold or distributed. There were also two 25-pound bags of pink powder that was used by the handful to cover participants at the finish line.
“I think this one is a hit,” Ms. Adamson said. “I think next year it is going to be even bigger. …What got me was the amount of fun people were having. We will continue to did until it gets too stale and then we will think of another idea.”
Next year’s event is already scheduled for the last weekend in May.
Several years ago, Ms. Adamson was inspired to start the free mammogram programme when she noticed a long line of men outside of the BVI Red Cross building for prostate cancer screening. She wondered why there wasn’t anything for women.
“There are so many people dying from [breast cancer] and nothing was being done [here],” Ms. Adamson said, who has had several close friends die because of breast cancer or has had a mastectomy.
So, she decided to organise an event that would benefit women’s health.
Over the years, the fundraiser has evolved from bike rides to walks to runs — all with the same purpose: to raise money for breast cancer awareness.
All told, more than 480 free mammogram vouchers have been provided by the programme during the past seven years, which are offered through Eureka Medical Clinic or Peebles Hospital.
Without the free voucher, a breast examine costs about $200.
“Early detection is the best prevention,” Ms. Adamson said.
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