By Lillian Eells
Contributing Writer
While most of Sewanee was sleeping in on the last Saturday in September, the Kappa Delta sorority hosted their first annual Shamrock Color Run. Kappa Delta holds a fundraiser every year for Prevent Child Abuse America and Preventing Child Abuse Tennessee, but this year they decided to break away from their typical events and do a color run.
“Color runs don’t happen very often at Sewanee, and we think they are an easy and fun way to get involved,” commented Marissa Lingaitis (C’20), KD’s vice president of community service.
Nearly 70 people registered for the run, which began in Manigault Park. The route then went past Stirling’s Coffee House, the Georgia Avenue townhouses, then up past the Russian House and back to Manigault Park. The route was a one-mile loop that participants ran twice.
Members of KD were stationed along the route showering runners, and themselves, with color. By the end of the run, everyone was covered in various colors made especially visible by the white event t-shirts. Alice Belshaw (C’22) decided to come because of the great cause and her love for color runs, noting it was a good way to start her Saturday morning.
The color run was a success for the participants and as a fundraiser. According to Lingaitis, combined efforts raised more than $4,000 for charity. This included the cost of $10-12 to participate, additional donations, and a fundraiser hosted by Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which raised about $200. Lingaitis said the $4,000 is the most they have ever raised since the beginning of their Shamrock fundraisers, which started when Sewanee’s KD chapter was founded.
All of the money raised will be sent to Prevent Child Abuse America and Tennessee. Prevent Child Abuse America is a Chicago-based charity that has strong ties to all the chapters of Kappa Delta. With the amazing success of the color run, it is no surprise that Lingaitis and the entirety of KD hope this will become an annual event and grow into a bigger and more impactful fundraiser.