BEST PTO Color Run Raises Funds for Elementary School Enrichment

The first wave of runners are off and running in the 2017 BEST PTO Color Run – Image (c) Danae Bucci, 2017 all rights reserved

By Danae Bucci

The sky was full of rainbow-colored dust as the second annual B.E.S.T. (Bedford Elementary Schools Together) PTO Color Run got underway on June 3 at John Glenn Middle School. Despite the gray skies, more than 700 students and parents ran to help raise money for both of Bedford’s elementary schools. The 3k run took place in the sports fields on John Glenn Middle School grounds, where spectators threw handfuls of colored chalk dust at the runners.

The money supports both Bedford elementary schools, Davis and Lane, to further the students’ education outside of the classroom. More than 150 volunteers organized the event.

“This is the second year and it feels as though this year has exceeded last year’s,” said Laura Tumasz, a B.E.S.T. committee member. With this year’s run surpassing expectations, the group was able to raise a substantial amount for the parent teacher organization.

“The money goes to adding fun stuff for the schools,” said Tumasz. Last year’s run was able to fund programs such as bringing artists to Davis School to speak to the children and paint a mural in the school. It also funded a visit from the Revels acting group to put on a show for the kids at Lane School.

Without fundraisers such as the Color Run, schools in Bedford could not afford these extracurricular activities for its students. “[B.E.S.T. PTO] is for stuff that the schools don’t have a budget for,” Tumasz went on to say. B.E.S.T. raises its money through a series of fundraisers. “We raise money through a lot of support from town organizations,” said Tumasz. At the Color Run alone, there were booths for many town businesses such as Bedford Farms, Red Heat Tavern, Callahan’s Karate, and Comella’s Restaurant.

Local businesses weren’t all the participants were excited about on Saturday afternoon: There were three inflatable castles for the children to play in before and after the run.

Although the organizers say this is a serious way to raise money for the town’s schools, it’s also fun. “It’s a Color Run, it’s a fun run, not for time or anything like that,” said Tumasz.