On September 12, 2014 History was made on the Kenai Peninsula! “Our first fun run with color took place on the Kenai Park Strip. It was a non-timed non-sanctioned fun run and started off with a big bang thanks to the Color Run Canon created by Scott Hamann and the trigger was pulled by our 2014 campaign chairman James Hornaday,” said Lisa Roberts, executive director of the Kenai Peninsula United Way. Along with the cannon, Hamann also designed a special color thrower that shot 4 different “fun” colors used in the race at the “Start”. Giving a very colorful start for those participating in the first Color Run. (All colors were made with corn starch and environmentally safe.)

Even though the weather was cold, windy and wet the color canons kept their powder dry, “Scott told me you better get down or it’ll blow your head off, so I got down,” said Judge Hornaday, “but it was a nice homecoming for me to come back to Kenai. I went by our old house and saw a number of old friends here at the race, things seem to be going fine here in Kenai. I’ve supported United Way for a long time. I’m honored to chair this year’s campaign which has set a goal of $650,000 and we’ll everyone to dig deep to help us achieve that goal. United Way is an umbrella for so many agencies that supports agencies from Youth Court to Hospice to Girl Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs to so many everyone should pick up a copy of the campaign pamphlet for this year and look over all the agencies United Way helps to support right here on the Peninsula and you can be sure your dollars will go where they are needed the most,” said Hornaday.

The run was hosted by the Kenai Peninsula United Way and co-sponsored by Tesoro, Peter Micciche, Peninsula Ears, Nose & Throat Clinic, 1st National Bank Alaska, Foster Construction, City of Kenai, Printers Ink, Morgan Steel, Metal Magic and Ron’s Rent it Center, according to Roberts.“This was our first attempt to have a Fun Run with Color and it certainly was fun so the plan is to hold it again next year, but in July when it’s a bit warmer,” said Roberts.