Runner Morgan Leso gets plenty of color in last year’s COLOR ME UNITED 5k! Submitted photo

FARMINGTON — United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is excited to offer our fifth annual Color Me United 5K Run/Walk this year. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, with a huge color explosion at the Narrow Gauge Movie Theater parking lot, right off Front Street. The race will end there as well. This year will be even more colorful and fun, come dressed as cool or funky as you can, with your team or as an individual.

Interested walkers, runners, teams, or individuals, etc. can register online at uwtva.org for $30, teams of five or more for $25 per person. The first 25 people to register will receive a mystery gift. Runners will head out right at 9 a.m. Walkers to follow around 9:05 a.m. Route is well-marked, will have crossing volunteers, and will travel Front Street, Main Street, Prescott Street, Maple Avenue, High Street and Anson Street.

The registration fee includes a white T-shirt, sunglasses, bandana, water from Poland Spring, color pack, and other goodies so participants are fully prepared for the color run experience. Proceeds from this race will be invested back into the community through efforts like the Hope Fund, Packs for Progress, community partners/programs like Meals on Wheels, food and fuel assistance and so much more. There will be prizes for largest team (LEAP and Team Strong hold the honor for the past year or two), and for the top three finishers in each age category. A photo backdrop will be provided to take before/after pictures if you like.

Volunteers also are needed to assist on the day of the race. Volunteer activities include spraying water, throwing color/paint, crossing guards/assistants, route guides, set up/clean up, and handing out drinking water.

United Way would like to thank our generous COLOR ME UNITED 5K sponsors: Thank you so much to PLATINUM sponsors State Farm, Franklin Community Health Network, Franklin Savings Bank; GOLD sponsors, Franklin Memorial Hospital Medical Staff, The Wood Mill of Maine, SILVER sponsors Consolidated Communications and Full Bloom Hydroponics, BRONZE sponsor United Insurance/Shiretown Agency. In-kind sponsors include Poland Spring, Black Bear Graphics, and Narrow Gauge Cinemas. We look forward to making this another great event.

For more information, visit uwtva.org or facebook.com/uwtva, or call 778-5048.

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