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03/22/2017 08:30 AMStacey O’Connor has always been a runner, and now she’s hoping that people in the North Haven community will be running to sign up for the event she’s organizing.
Stacey is organizing the inaugural My School Color Run on behalf of the Clintonville Elementary School PTA. The event takes place Sunday, April 2, at the North Haven High School.
“Rather than sell goods, we want to engage the entire student body in a fitness initiative that aims to encourage a life-long healthy way of living,” Stacey says.
Athletics and children are two things that are important to Stacey. She is currently in her fourth year of teaching 4th grade students at Ridge Road Elementary School, and she has also been a coach for the North Haven Girls’ Softball League for the past five years.
Having two daughters who attend Clintonville Elementary School was one of the reasons why Stacey started getting involved with the PTA. She wanted to be an involved parent and know what was going on. She started as secretary, and is now the co-president.
Stacey says that she’s always liked running, and has participated in many color runs in the past. One of the reasons she wanted to do a color run was because she’s never seen one taking place in the North Haven Area.
The Color Run offers a 5k course as well as a one-mile run. Participants will wear a white shirt, and pass through color zones where they will be sprayed with different colors of paint, which is how the event got its name
“We start out with white T-shirts, and by the end, they’re tie-dye,” says Stacey.
She describes the event as a “fun run” in which anyone can participate, regardless of their fitness level.
“We’ve had grandparents, kids; parents can even push strollers if they wanted to” she says.
Stacey recalled a Color Run in New York that she participated in. She says that one of the most fun parts about that experience was that after the race was over, the participants shook out their shirts, and the powder from all the paint was going everywhere. She hopes participants in the My School Color Run will have a similar fun experience.
Another thing that is important to her when setting up this event is getting the whole community involved. Stacey has invited other schools from the district, and says that North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda will make an appearance, though she’s not sure if he will run.
She’s hoping to have students from the middle school and high school volunteer to spray the paint and work the water stations. She has even gotten the local Outback Steakhouse and McDonalds to provide food and snacks.
Funds from the event are going to the schools’ PTAs. Stacey says the money will be used to fund field trips and purchase books and other school supplies based on the needs of the school.
Her goal is to have 200 participants. She currently has around 110, and is hoping to get more participants to raise more money for the schools.
“These are our kids, and we want them to have the best experience that they can in their school years” she says.
Stacey says that teachers from the school are starting to get really excited about the event, and asking their classes to participate in the event, as well as their parents.
“It’s exciting for them to do a bonding experience as a class,” she says.
Registration is open until the start of the race on April 2. Those who register early will receive an individual color packet, race bib, and a My School Color Run T-shirt. T-shirts are guaranteed to all participants.
To register, visit www.clintonvillemscr.eventbrite.com. For more information, call Stacey O’Connor at 203-996-0189.