The Most Colorful Run In Hawaii
The popular Run or Dye 5K is coming to Hawaii Sept. 2 from 9 to 1 p.m. at Aloha Stadium, and event organizers have partnered with Aloha United Way to offer runners and volunteers an opportunity to help the local nonprofit.
Sign up to be a volunteer by emailing jody@auw.org, and Run or Dye will give Aloha United Way $50 for every volunteer involved with the event through Aloha United Way. For race participants, Aloha United Way has an exclusive coupon code for $10 off the regular ticket price. Go to runordye.com/locations/Honolulu-2013 and use coupon code “RODAUW10” to redeem it. Aloha United Way will receive $10 for every coupon code redeemed.
Run or Dye is not a timed run, and it’s open to all ages and fitness levels. Throughout the course, runners are showered with safe, eco-friendly plant-based cornstarch dye at every kilometer. There’s also the famous Dye Festival at the finish, where you can “tiedye the sky (and friends).”
Among the many runners looking forward to Run or Dye is Alexander & Baldwin president and chief operating officer Chris Benjamin, who also serves as this year’s Aloha United Way campaign chairman. His company will kick off its Aloha United Way Campaign on Labor Day by participating in Run or Dye, the first of several taking place in the Islands.
“I’ve run off and on since high school, but never competitively,” says Benjamin, who has participated in various races, including marathons, in the past. “I just do it for exercise and fun.”
Born and raised in Detroit, Benjamin moved to Hawaii 21 years ago, and in addition to running, he also enjoys swimming and kayaking.
“Chris is very philanthropic and caring, and has helped to set the pace for numerous charitable organizations, and now Aloha United Way,” notes Kim Gennaula, Aloha United Way president and CEO. “Alexander & Baldwin and Aloha United Way have been partners since the beginning, with A&B among Aloha United Ways’ leading contributors donating millions to the needs of our community over the years.”
In 2012, the Aloha United Way Workplace Campaign raised nearly $9.5 million, and when combined with other fundraising efforts, Aloha United Way puts more than $10 million annually back into the community.
“Our community’s charitable organizations have lost a lot of financial support over the past several years because of the economic crisis we’ve been through, and yet, the needs of our community have only continued to grow,” adds Benjamin. “With less resources to go around, Aloha United Way provides the financial support that so many charitable organizations can depend on.”
Run or Dye is a family-friendly event (kids age 6 and under run free). Participants receive a T-shirt, extra dye packet and a goodie-stuffed swag bag. For more information, visit runordye.com.
