Mother’s Day holds a special place in the hearts of two families in Salem. Both lost women to cancer and both were looking for a way to honor those women. WSLM RADIO and ACE HARDWARE are partnering to hold a 5K color run on Saturday, May 10 – the day before Mother’s Day — that will honor Charlotte Martin and Carol Strange, as well as all their employees whose families have been touched by cancer.
The WSLM RADIO – ACE HARDWARE 5K PAINT RACE will be held in order to raise money to donate to the Washington County Relay For Life in honor of both Martin and Strange.
“Mom passed away on Valentine’s Day 1986 after fighting breast cancer for several years. She passed away on the day WSLM celebrates its birthday so every year that’s a bittersweet day for me,” said Becky White, owner and general manager of WSLM RADIO. “I’ve been looking for a way to honor her and through my professional relationship with Bob Strange and Ace Hardware, we’ve found a way to honor these two amazing ladies.”
Carol Strange passed away after a battle with Cancer. “She was a big part of Salem True Value Hardware and our family and store family want to honor her, too,” said Bob Strange. The event will honor those of all staff who have been touched by Cancer.
According to Eva Marie from Ace Hardware, the 5K event will also kick off promotion of Ace Hardware’s National Paint Studio Grand Opening event week, including a buy-one get-one free paint sale which will run May 18 and 19 only.
“During the 5K walk and run, participants will be blasted with color at the beginning and end of the course,” said White. The “color” which is 100 percent safe will wash out. “You will get color on your clothing, hair and anything else you’re running with. Color runs are becoming very popular and are held regionally in Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. We’re bringing this to Salem as a new annual event!”
The 3.1 mile (5K) walk/run will begin at Ace Hardware on Tarr Avenue, proceed south to West Market Street, then turn East towards Crown Hill Cemetery, inside the cemetery and back to Ace Hardware.
“We hope to make this a happy and fun event for the family and the community. What’s more fun in the spring than to see lots of bold and exciting colors! We’ll have those on May 10 – in the air, on shirts and all over each other!” said White. “We’ll keep adding fun things to do during the event each year.”
The Salem Fire Department will be on hand to rinse off those who want to get rid of their color.
Registration for the event is $30 and includes event registration, a t-shirt and packet of color.
Registration without a t-shirt and color packet is $20.
Race registration is open now and available by logging on to http://www.eventbrite.com/preview?eid=11162859413. You can also stop by ACE HARDWARE and register or mail checks to WSLM RADIO, 1308 East Hackberry Street, Salem, IN 47167.
To see the course or to upload it to your phone or GPS, go to http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/369809063#
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