Elizabethtown College will soon be filled with splashes of color as almost 500 campus and community members take part in the first E-town Color Classic running race at 2 p.m. April 6.

The E-town Color Classic, sponsored by the Class of 2016, is modeled after other runs such as the Color Run or Color Me Rad, in which participants are decorated with different color powders as the race goes on. “We are hoping that this kind of event will not just bring class unity but will be something that will bring the entire campus together,” said sophomore class president, Erik Cianci.hands in circle with color powder

The 3.1-mile run, which begins and ends at the College’s Brinser Field, is different from anything ever held before on campus. “We decided to do the Color Classic because of the recent interest in this type of event,” said Cianci. “It really appealed to our class because no other club or organization on campus has ever attempted something like this before.”

In addition to students, the fundraising run is open to the public, as well. “I think the community does a lot for Elizabethtown College and doesn’t necessary get recognized for it,” said Cianci. “We wanted to allow the community to come to the campus, see students and enjoy the benefits of having a college in your town.”

The Arc of Lancaster, an organization that helps individuals and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will be recipient of 75 percent of the race’s net proceeds. The sophomore class decided to pick a nonprofit organization that students and the college had worked with before. “Based on this reason and the Arc’s limited budget, we felt that giving them a percent of the proceeds would do great thing,” said Cianci.

Registration for this year’s event is closed, however children ages eight and under can participate for free.