CASSOPOLIS — Clouds of color will fill the air on Saturday, June 8, at the fifth annual ‘Super Fun Color Run’ sponsored by the Cass District Library and the Warriors Against Trauma.

The rainbow-filled fun run kicks off the library’s summer 2019 reading club, “A Universe of Stories.”

Registration for the free event, hosted at the Cass County Council on Aging track, 60525 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, is from 8:15 until 8:45 a.m., with the fun run, beginning at 9 a.m.

Stephanie Knepple, event coordinator at the Cass District Library, started the event five years ago with a group of high school students who were eager to do something fun with the community.

“It’s a fun, free, family event,” Knepple said. “You can run or walk, push strollers and pull wagons, as long as you don’t mind them getting them messy.”

There will be at least seven color stations, and Knepple encourages everyone to come out and participate in the free family event.

“I always wanted to participate in a color run event, but they are so expensive, I thought this would be a great way to make that experience available for our community,” Knepple said.

Anyone who pre-registered was able to order a t-shirt for $10. Knepple said there will be additional t-shirts for purchase the morning of the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

Every registered participant will receive a ticket for prize drawings hosted at the end of the run, water and a banana donated by Dussel’s Farm Market.

“Stick around after the color runs out to see what goodies you might win,” Knepple said. “Prizes include pizza coupons, smoothie vouchers, and a three-month membership to the YMCA.”

New this year is a collaboration with Great Start Cass County Parent Coalition.

“We are working towards a community informed and helping families and children who have experienced trauma,” Knepple said.  “We thought this would be a good opportunity to collaborate with Great Start Cass.”

The library also reached out to other local agencies that help serve families in the community so they can have a table at the event to pass out information on their services.

“Participants, and anyone who comes to the COA that day, can stop and get some more information on services offered,” Knepple said.

Some of the participating agencies include Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, Family Enrichment Center, Lewis Cass Intermediate School District, early childhood programs, Midwest Energy & Communications, Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries, The Village 4-H Club, Tri-County Headstart, Van Buren/Cassw District Health Department and Woodlands.

To Knepple, this event is more than just a colorful fun run, it is a collaboration of community resources to benefit the entire community.

“We are working together in the community and serving the families of Cass Count, offering another free resource for our families to participate in, and promote a healthy community,” Knepple said.