The Paint the Town Pink Color Run returned to downtown El Dorado on Saturday for its 11th annual iteration. With its runners and walkers splashed with pink (and other colors), the event was hard to miss.
Held simultanously was the Leslie Darden Memorial 5K; both events were organized by the #teamcorrie Cancer Foundation.
The #teamcorrie Cancer Foundation raises money at the annual 5K -- which is always held near the beginning of October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- to provide local "cancer warriors" with grants of up to $1,500 to help cover their medical expenses, according to previous News-Times reporting.
An outdoors after-party was held following the run Saturday morning, where prizes were handed out amid a dance party.
The foundation's vice president, Kristi Lowery, said as the after-party was wrapping up Saturday that around 375 participants total joined in this year, a step up from 2022.
"We also had 16 paint stations staffed by Camp Fire," Lowery said, referencing the stations set up along the route to help make sure runners are adequately colorful.
The #teamcorrie Cancer Foundation is named for Corrie Jo Gross Bechtelheimer, who passed away in 2014 following a two year battle against cancer.
The Leslie Darden Memorial 5K honors a #teamcorrie grant recipient and running enthusiast who passed away last year.
Lowery said Saturday that the foundation has now given out 243 individual grants totalling more than $276,000.
Winners of the Leslie Darden Memorial 5K included: Women's Division, Chelsey Owens, first place; Alejandra Pichardo, second place; Kylie Lawson, third place; Men's Division, Everett McKell, first place; Jack Jeffees, second place; James Preston, third place.
For more information, visit teamcorriecancerfoundation.org.