LIHUE — Heidi Herr, a Kauai High School senior, was quickly enveloped in the colorful clouds which rose from pockets around the North Vidinha soccer fields Saturday. Herr organized the Colors for Cancer, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society,
LIHUE — Heidi Herr, a Kauai High School senior, was quickly enveloped in the colorful clouds which rose from pockets around the North Vidinha soccer fields Saturday.
Herr organized the Colors for Cancer, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, as her senior project for the Kauai High School Class of 2014.
As a team captain for the Red Raiders cross country and track teams, Herr turned to her love of physical activity to host a family-friendly event which also served as a fund raising function for the cancer society.
“My passion for exercise, physical health and prosperity has been my drive in creating this run which encourages the community to have fun while exercising and supporting a good cause,” Heidi said in an email.
Nearly 200 people rose ahead of the sun Saturday to help Heidi with her cause, donning clean white shirts which soon resembled a forest of dyed color.
“They run this field nearly every day for soccer,” said David Herr, Heidi’s dad, while wielding a videocamera to record the event. “This is a new use for the field, but look at the color of the grass.”
Runners (and walkers) were greeted by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. who also joined the field, taking several laps before adjourning to another appointment.
“Congratulations to Heidi on this great event,” Carvalho said. “She is not only a great student-athlete, but a role model in the community for showing people that anyone can make a difference.”
Although the distance was measured out as “the most colorful three miles on Kauai,” more than several of the runners, including students from the Kauai High School boys soccer team, indulged in several laps where each accumulating lap resulted in more color and more animated antics.
Their appetite for the colorful puffs were whetted when they took part in the Color Relay benefiting the Kapaa Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band in mid-November.
Heidi said the American Cancer was selected as a beneficiary because she lost her grandfather to cancer while she was a child.
In addition to her family, including her parents and brothers, Heidi enlisted the aid of her friends, including fellow track participants, her running and track coach, Chelsea Wishard, and other community sponsors.
