Why were students happy about getting soaked with rain and colors?

Splashes of yellow, pink, orange, and green filled the air amid a grand downpour. No, it’s not a scene from a Monet — it was the inaugural Color Fun Run, hosted by the Lynbrook Moms’ Dads’ Athletic Club.

The April 29 event was a fundraiser to provide scholarships to athletes graduating from Lynbrook High School. To call the day rainy would be an understatement — but that didn’t stop students from coming out to have a fun time. In fact, the weather even added to the experience for some.

“The rain made it more fun because the color stuck to us better,” said Cameron Kirby, a freshman on the Lynbrook JV lacrosse team. “It was funny. We were all trying not to slip. It can be fun in any weather.”

The color run featured two rounds, one in the morning for kids in preschool through 5th grade, and one in the afternoon for middle school and high school students. When not splashing colors on others — or having colors splashed on them — participants enjoyed tents selling cookies and merch. A DJ even came, not letting the weather stop him — he played out the back of a pickup truck, providing a fun backing track to the chorus of delighted students playing in the rain.

“I feel like it was a success,” said Jeanine DiFiore, president of the Lynbrook Moms’ and Dads’ Athletics Club. “This is a new adventure. The first year really lays the groundwork. We'll be able to grow the run from here.”

“Despite the stormy weather, we did what we intended to do,” she added.

The fundraiser made more than $2,000, which will go to scholarships for graduating seniors who made an impact on their sports teams, whether through their athleticism, their teamwork, or their dedication.

“We give out scholarships based on athletic performance throughout your high school career, and also spirit,” said DiFiore. “They show up all the time, they always want to help.”

The girls’ JV lacrosse team was a perfect example of that kind of community-mindedness, with several students coming early to help set up the run for the younger kids. Later in the day they had a color fight, turning their pristine white shirts into a tie dye-esque blend of color.

“My favorite part was getting sprayed with the colors, and taking pictures after with the whole team,” said Natalie Kehoe, another freshman on the JV lacrosse team. “I don’t think the weather really mattered that much. It was still fun, even if it was raining.”

Next year’s color run is scheduled for May 11, 2024. For more information, visit the Lynbrook Moms’ and Dads’ Club — Athletics page on Facebook.