A colorful new Williston tradition was created this past Sunday.

Galbraith fields were home to Williston’s first annual “Color Run,” hosted by Active Minds.

Upwards of 60 competitors ran in the fundraising race, a 5K, which took place Sunday, May 12, and cost $5 dollars per person. The course began at the tennis pavilion, and consisted of three loops of Galbraith, before finishing back at the tennis courts. Active Minds club members and volunteers threw powdered paint at runners in several different spots, spaced out around the course. Finishers received donuts and water for their efforts.

Elle Ash, Active Minds member and race organizer, hoped the event would rally the community around the common goal of fighting for students’ mental health.

“We wanted to raise awareness for mental health, and we thought it was a great way to bring people around a cause,” she said. “Jayme [Cerasuolo ‘26] had done a Color Run at her old school [Minnechaug Regional] so it was largely her idea to bring it to Williston.”

Elle thinks the Color Run was a huge success.

“It turned out great,” she said. “We had a great turnout. It went pretty smoothly, and we raised a ton of money.”

She says the money will be used to fund future Active Minds events, from which the proceeds will eventually go toward various mental health organizations.

Catie Spence, avid runner and Track & Field captain, appreciated how the race showcased the student body’s ability to come together and support a common goal.

“I liked that it really showcased Williston’s sense of community and that everyone came out to have fun and support a good cause,” she said. “There were overall a lot of fun, positive vibes.”

Hudson Fulcher-Melendy, a senior and former member of the Cross Country team, participated in the race for its sense of community and togetherness, even though he does not love to run.

“I did the color run because it was for a good cause, and I thought it was a good opportunity to go outside and spend some time with friends in the last few weeks of school,” he said. “Even though I don’t like to run, I had fun, since I ran with my buddy [Jake Henry ‘24], and we made it more about the company we had than the pain of running.”

Jackson Estes, who won the race in a time of 22:35, enjoyed the “fun environment,” and appreciated the added benefit of “getting a cool new t-shirt,” which reads “Williston Color Run” across the front and has the school logo.

Color Runs are races or fun runs, typically five kilometers, inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, and involve competitors being splashed with paint, while raising money for various charitable causes.