Welcome Rainbow Runners!
Thank you for registering for the Bury Hospice ‘Touch the Rainbow Colour Run 2017’. This information pack will tell
you everything you need to know about the event and will answer any of your questions. Please make sure that you
read through to the end, because it contains important information that you need to know.
If you use social media, please “like” our Bury Hospice Facebook page. You will find the Colour Run Facebook event
pinned to the top of that page and in the first instance that is where we will post any last minute changes or updates:
https://www.facebook.com/bury.hospice/?ref=hl
If you would like to set up an online fundraising page, please go to our dedicated Everyday Hero link
https://www.everydayhero.co.uk/event/BuryColourRun2017
Update on last year’s event
2016 was a very special year for Bury Hospice because we celebrated our 25th anniversary and we held the party of all
parties at our very first Colour Run event, to which everyone was invited. We had 354 registrations, with 120 people
raising money above and beyond the standard registration fee, to help the event to a staggering £21,000 profit. As
you can imagine, we were thrilled to bits!
Had a fabulous
time doing the
Colour Run for
Bury Hospice and
would sign up
again in a heartbeat. We all had
a great laugh’
‘What a fab afternoon at
the Colour Run, we had a
ball! Thank you to all the
volunteers and
organisers,
here’s to next
year’s event!’
‘We had the best day.
Not sure how much we
have all raised between
the five of us but it’s
well over £600’
‘Here is my son
getting ready to
throw some
paint. Thank you
Bury Hospice for
an amazing day, I
feel proud to be
a part of it – you
are all amazing’
‘Loved it. First 5k
run for over 25
years but could
not have been
for a better
cause. Hopefully
be back next
year’
‘Thanks to all the staff,
volunteers and sponsors, who made the run
such fun. Well done
everyone’
‘I’m sure Mum would have
been lookin’ down on us ‘n’ be
proud doin’ this for the great
people at Bury Hospice, who
made her final days happy and
comfortable’
‘It was fantastic to
be able to support
such a worthy cause
and have a little fun
along the way. Still
finding paint here
there and everywhere, but sooooo
glad WE DID IT!!!’
So, what’s it all about?
We think the original Colour Run idea came from the Indian Holi Festival, but wherever it came from, it’s the most
fun you could have in an afternoon and it’s a fantastic way to raise much-needed funds for Bury Hospice.
We call it a Colour Run, but in truth, you don’t have to run at all; you can
run, walk, hop, skip or jump round the 5k course if you want to, we
really don’t mind, as long as you have plenty of fun doing it and reach
the finish line covered in Rainbow bright colours. It’s not a competition
either, because the race isn’t timed, and we have no upper age limit - as
long as you are in good health and over five years old, you can take part,
however, all children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a
responsible adult.
How does it work?
It’s very simple; register from 9.00am at Burrs Activity Centre which is opposite the
Brown Cow Pub, next to the event field. Here you will be able to collect your race
number and Rainbow Runner t-shirt, before heading off to the park. Make sure you are
wearing your race number, because this identifies you when you cross the finish line.
We should already have been made aware of any specific medical conditions, but
please also write them on the back of your race number, as well as an emergency
contact name and telephone number, because the information
could be useful to our first aid team, should you need their help.
Is there a warm-up?
Yes, we need those running muscles
ready for action so there will be a twenty
minute warm-up before the Colour Run
starts. Make sure you are on the main
field by 12.40pm—we don’t want you
setting off cold or you might get cramp!
What time does it start and how long will it take?
The run will begin at 1.00pm with groups of around twenty people at a time. As you pass through the Rainbow
Stations you will be bombarded with Rainbow Colour by our Rainbow Volunteers who have been instructed to try and
aim low. Please be aware there is a 400 metre stretch of the course running alongside the canal which is unfenced
and very narrow. This part of the route will be marshalled, but we strongly advise that you run in single file along this
stretch.
Please respect the environment and our volunteers, who have to clean up any mess you leave behind; if you are
carrying an empty water bottle, please dispose of it in one of the litter bins along the route.
Seasoned runners can manage the course in roughly twenty minutes, while seasoned strollers will take about an
hour. Race participants will be given a free sachet of powder colour at the end of the run. Spectators who want to
take part in the Rainbow Festival afterwards are more than welcome to join us and can buy colour from one of our
stalls.
What are the powders made from and are
they safe?
Our throwing powders are made from potato starch, food grade colours
and cosmetic dyes, are biodegradable, non-hazardous, non-toxic and fully
tested. All our powders are EN1223/2009 European Cosmetic Regulations
compliant; however, although they are completely safe, they should not
be thrown directly in the face and might sting a bit if they get in your eyes,
but a good swill with some water will easily sort this out. If you have any
concerns about contact lenses, eye irritation, or breathing, you may want
to wear sunglasses and cover your nose and mouth with a dust mask or
scarf.
What is the minimum sponsorship?
There is no minimum sponsorship, but we would like you to consider
that your registration fee does not even cover the cost of staging this
event, so we respectfully ask that you please try your very best to
raise a minimum of £50. This is a very achievable amount for most
adults and if just a few friends and family sponsor £5 each you could
easily raise this much. We want all our Rainbow Runners to have a
fantastic time, but we also want you to remember that you are taking
part in a fundraising event for Bury Hospice and we ask everyone to
try and do their bit to help raise as much money as possible.
Last year, over one third of our Rainbow Runners did some fundraising as well as paying
a registration fee, and that was absolutely fantastic, but we need more of you to do that
this year, to help us hit our target of £30k.
If you want to raise funds online, please sign up on our Everyday Hero page
https://www.everydayhero.co.uk/event/BuryColourRun2017 or you can use the
sponsor form that is included in this pack to raise funds offline. Please use it, because
we need YOU!
What do I wear?
Well, we wouldn’t suggest you wear your designer jeans and trainers;
even though our throwing powders are designed to be washable, we
can’t guarantee there won’t be some sneaky dye hiding in seams and
stitching and it wouldn’t be a good idea to wear anything with a suede
finish.
Remember you are running outdoors on a track surface that
could be loose, uneven or slippy, so make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear. Your free t-shirt is white, because the colour shows up
better; just team it up with some jeans or shorts, but don’t wear anything you would be upset about if you couldn’t wear it ever again. If
you really want to make a statement, fancy dress would be fabulous –
the wackier the better!
Can children take part?
Absolutely! This event is perfect for children as long as they are aged five years and
above, because we are expecting a lot of people and the event might be very overwhelming for tiny tots. Loads of kids registered last year and they loved it!
All children 16 and under MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult
What about my dog or any other pets?
Sorry, much as we love our furry friends, pets are strictly prohibited from our event, not just
for the health and safety of our runners, but also for the animals themselves. Besides, you
wouldn’t want this running round your house when you got home, now would you? :)
Can I take part if I’m pregnant?
Lots of pregnant runners take part in colour run events all around
the country, but obviously, if you have any concerns, you should
speak to your doctor about it first before you make a decision to
take part in ours. All our powders are certified safe and nontoxic, but you may want to take extra precautions, just as you
would if you had any concerns about contact lenses, eye irritation,
or breathing, in which case you could wear sunglasses and cover
your nose and mouth with a dust mask or scarf.
Where can I park my car?
We will be using the overflow car park, which is just down the road from the Garsdale Country Inn & Restaurant, on
the right hand side of the road, just before you reach the entrance to Burrs Country Park. Cars are left here at
owners’ own risk.
Where can we get refreshments?
We will provide free bottled water for our runners. Participants and spectators can also buy food and drink from one
of the food stalls at the event. We do not have a licence for alcohol, so we are sorry, but it is strictly forbidden on
site.
Where do I register and at what time?
Registration takes place on Sunday 4th June, at Burrs Activity Centre from 9.00am until 12.30am.
Can we register as a group?
There is nothing to stop you and your friends running together as a group, but unfortunately we do not have the
facility to register you as a group, therefore, everyone must register as an individual.
Can I register on the day?
Yes, you can, but please note that there will be no reductions in price if all goody bags and t-shirts have already been
allocated to participants who have pre-registered.
What is included in my registration?
You will receive a Rainbow Runner t-shirt, a free sachet of paint and a race number.
Bottled water will be available on the route. You will also get a secret goody bag, and if we
told you what was in it, it wouldn’t be a secret any more, would it? :)
What about refunds?
The registration fee ensures that the hospice is not out of pocket for things like administration costs and charges, so
regrettably, your registration fee is non-refundable and this is clearly stated in our terms and conditions. However,
refunds will be given on request if we have to cancel the event due to bad weather.
Are there any race rules?
Just a couple; wear something light coloured when you start and make
sure you look like you’ve been dancing with a rainbow when you finish.
Your aim is to be as rainbow bright as possible, for all those Facebook
selfies.
How do I get the dye out?
Our throwing powders are made from potato starch and are made to be washable, but as we have already mentioned,
there is no guarantee that all the colour will come out, especially around seams and hems. Your best bet is to wear
your free t-shirt, with a pair of old jeans and trainers, or come in fancy dress. The powders should wash off skin and
hair, easily under a shower. If you are worried about the effect on your hair, wear a hat or have a chat to your hairdresser about it first, before you register. We will have fans and brushes available, if you want to get rid of some of
the residue before you leave the event.
What about dye in my car?
We would advise you to bring some old towels to sit on, or a change
of clothes.
Can I bring my camera and phone?
Yes, you can, but entirely at your own risk, as we cannot be held responsible for dust that gets into your devices and
cannot be held liable for any damage it might cause. There will be event photographers around on the day, but if you
want to have your own record, on your own device, we would advise you to cover your phone or camera with a
protective plastic wrap.
What about bad weather?
We don’t care if it rains, we don’t care if it pours, we don’t care if the wind
blows; as long as there is no adverse weather warning, this event will go
ahead! In the event of an adverse weather warning, the Colour Run will be
cancelled and held at a later date. In the unlikely event that we do have to
cancel, refunds will only be given on request.
What is the Rainbow Festival?
When you complete the 5k course, you can collect your colour
packet as you cross the finish line. By now, you should be completely rainbowed from head to toe, and you can make your way
to the stage where our Rainbow MC will be belting out some
tunes. When enough people have finished the run, there will be
a countdown and a mass throw of colour to start the Rainbow
Festival off, so make sure you don’t throw your colour until
then, because you only get one free packet. We will keep having mass throws of colour until all the Rainbow Runners
have returned and if you want another packet, you will be able to buy one from our stalls on a first-come, first-served
basis. Friends and family are welcome to come with you to the Colour Festival, but make sure you warn them that
they won’t get out looking the same colour they did when they went in!
Will it harm the environment?
All our throwing powders are biodegradable, non-hazardous, non-toxic and fully tested and will dissipate harmlessly
into the ground or blow away on the wind. We will have clean up squads standing by though; to make sure our
lovely Burrs Country Park is as beautiful when we leave it, as it was when we arrived.