Blue and Gold Dash to help mark 50th anniversary year

Runners and walkers are invited to take part in a 50th Anniversary Blue and Gold Dash at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, a 1½-mile fun run/walk around campus where participants will get doused in blue and gold color powder from head to toe.  

The Dash, which is open to the public, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 6.  Dash participants will run or walk twice around the Campus Loop while volunteers at different stations along the course toss blue and gold color powder at them, similar to The Color Runs held throughout the United States and Canada. A massive color toss will be held at the finish line.

“We’re very excited about this event,” said Dr. Jim Evans, chairman of Pitt-Bradford’s 50th anniversary committee.  “This will be a great opportunity to continue to celebrate the university’s anniversary with our campus and community friends, get covered in blue and gold school spirit, and have a lot of fun at the same time.”

Evans, along with a few other Pitt-Bradford faculty and staff, will lead the start of the event in front of the sand volleyball court.  Also at the event, there will be music courtesy of WDRQ, the campus’ student-run radio station; post-race refreshments; and professional photos taken, which will be uploaded to the university’s Facebook page. Members of Circle K, the collegiate arm of the Kiwanis Club, will be on hand to sell baked-goods.

Online pre-registration began March 3. The pre-registration entry fee is $5 for all students and $10 for non-students. All those who pre-register are guaranteed a limited-edition Blue and Gold Dash T-shirt to wear to the event. Participants can register at upbalumni.org/dash. Pitt-Bradford students can register by accessing Pitt Paws through my.pitt.edu. Online pre-registration will be open through March 24.

Participants also can register the day of the event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the registration table in front of the Harriett B. Wick Chapel.

The event-day registration fee is $10 for all students and $15 for nonstudents. T-shirts, which are not guaranteed for those who register the day of the event, will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants must be at least 12 years old. Students aged 12-17 must have their waiver signed by a parent or guardian. No strollers or participants with babies in body packs will be permitted at the event.

In case of severe weather, the event will be held Saturday, April 12.

All proceeds will benefit the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Scholarship at Pitt-Bradford.