GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Sycamore Middle School’s annual Color Run on Friday April 11, beginning at 1 p.m., gave students a distinctive look.

So what is a Color Run? 

Students each get a sponsor for $20, wear a white T shirt and run around the school’s perimeter. They pass several color stations en route, where teachers and other adults first throw water, then colored powder and colored slime. The water helps the powder to stick.

The Gridley Fire Department was present at the southwest corner of the route to spray everyone who passed. 

Streets around the school were blocked off by Gridley Police. 

Proceeds from the sponsorships go to the school with a percentage given to the nonprofit Children’s Hope Foster Agency. The agency’s co-founder/executive director Heather Payne and other agency employees were on hand to help with the color stations. 

Physical education teacher John Cooprider and the Leadership class students coordinated the event. The decision to include Children’s Hope in the proceeds was a first. 

“They (the Leadership students) changed up things a little bit from how we did it in the past,” Cooprider said. 

Payne added, “It was the kids who determined to sponsor Children’s Hope. One of our staff’s daughters is in his (Leadership) class, and she raised the question if we could have a little bit go to Children’s Hope, to benefit the community. They (the class) do other things for us as well. They collect socks. They do special little bags they decorate for the foster kids at Christmas time. This Leadership class has always traditionally done a little something to help local foster youth.”

Everyone who participated appeared to be having a great time. 

When asked why he wanted to participate, seventh-grader Ty Egan said “Because it’s fun. I get to hang out with my friends. I did it last year.”

Asked if he would do it again next year, Ty replied, “Definitely!”

Eighth-grader Chanel Castaneda said, “This is a ton of fun, especially with the firefighters here.”

Her friend, Gracie Perez, said, “I like the goo!”

This was the girls’ last time in the Color Run, since they will be in high school next year. However, all the students have a brightly-colored (and autographed) shirt as a souvenir.