Miles of Hope at Terp Thon's Life in Color 5K

Photo credit: John Bedard for The Campus Trainer

You might’ve heard what happened in front of McKeldin Library on Tuesday. If you were there and able to peek through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, you would’ve seen the four men in the middle, holding mean signs and claiming nasty messages.

If you were on the mall last Saturday, though, you would’ve seen a much more loving atmosphere.

Last weekend marked Terp Thon’s seventh annual Life in Color 5K. This event, attended by over 300 registrants, raises funds for the student-run organization. Throughout the year, Terp Thon members channel the club’s tagline — “For the Kids” — as they fundraise for Children’s National Main Hospital in Washington, D.C..

This facility, located less than 10 miles from campus, is part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This network raises money, support and awareness for children’s hospitals and is supported by programs such as Terp Thon. The day of the 5K, 11 of the association’s “Miracle Kids” — children who have suffered some sort of medical condition treated by the service — were present.

“I have a young niece, and if she ever had to go through any of the stuff that these Miracle Kids have gone through, my heart would shatter,” said Rebecca Wertling, a Terp Thon volunteer and junior elementary education major. “It just inspires you to fight so that, in the future, kids don’t have to go through this.”

Around 11:45 a.m., attention shifted to the front of Symons Hall. The starting line, framed by two stacks of balloons, was toed by the first two waves of runners; their white “For the Kids” cutoff shirts were already speckled with color. Terp Thon’s “hype squad” was responsible — volunteers wearing glittery face paint, beads, tutus and leis threw colored powder at the runners as they made their way to the line.

Photo credit: John Bedard for The Campus Trainer

The runners got ready, set, and went, stirring up a cloud of color.

They all ran for different reasons. A few steps from the finish line, there were two blackboards with the words “Why I Run” inscribed across them.

“For the kids” was, of course, repeatedly written.

“For our health,” in bold blue letters, was scrawled across from “for those who can’t.”

Others were running for Trevor, Noah, Tara, Caitlin and Tess. Another was running for Uncle Oli.

These hopeful one-liners must have rang through the minds of the runners in that moment, etched in every step and stride they took.

The first few racers came through a little later. By then, they were blasted with color. The finish line, too, seemed to have a fog of colorful dust hanging around it — each runner had one more breathful of powder before finishing.

Brennan Holloway, a junior history and information science major, was streaked with blue and green when I spoke with him.

“It was fun,” he said. “It’s a little hot … I mean, it’s for a good cause, so I’m not gonna not do it.”

Holloway mentioned his girlfriend’s father’s bout with colon cancer as part of his reason for showing up.

The event ended on an upbeat note. The volunteers took to the stage and performed a dance, clapping, singing and, at one point, chanting “FTK” — For the Kids.

So, if you happen to see a color-splotched sidewalk this week, look down and remember the good on this campus. It’s never too hard to find.