News Detail
Students Volunteer for Back on My Feet at the D.C. Color Run
Every May, EHS seniors take all the lessons we’ve learned in our four years at The High School and venture into the “real world.” The senior externships program is a chance to spread our wings and fly by finding jobs and transportation, experiencing a full time commitment outside of the Holy Hill. Even though we have some help from our externship advisors, there is a new level of independence and responsibility as we go from boarding school students to members of the workforce.
For my senior externship, I am working at a nonprofit called Back on My Feet. Back on My Feet combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, essential employment, and housing resources. The program creates a sense of community, commitment, and reliability, changing many people’s lives. Meg Phillips, spouse of Episcopal arts teacher Frank Phillips, is one of three amazing people that run the D.C. branch of Back on My Feet, working day in and day out to help their members learn how to live self-sufficient lives.
This year, the Color Run’s charity partner for their National Harbor race was Back on My Feet. Meg and I decided to offer Episcopal students the chance to volunteer and be a part of making the Color Run’s magic happen! The Color Run donated to BoMF for every volunteer it entered, providing an awesome experience for our students while helping a great cause - a colorful win-win. On Sunday, May 15, a group of 16 Episcopal students left campus at an ambitious time of 7 a.m., eager for a vibrant day at National Harbor. Imagine entering candy land, with decorations galore and bold color splattered everywhere as you walk down the sidewalk to the center of festivity. "The Happiest 5k on Earth", as trademarked by the The Color Run, lives up to its famous descriptor. The Color Run uses the powerful tool of suggestive imaging to encourage its participants to feel good. Who couldn’t be gleeful when the first thing they see is life-sized spunky sign saying, “HAPPY.”
We danced along with a conglomerate of early morning Zumba extraordinaires. We saw people taking whacky pictures in even wackier costumes. We felt the energy pulsating as people of all ages prepared to embark on this noncompetitive fun run. We were then given our color stations and got started.
My group was the orange station. My duties included cheering and giving top notch high fives. To hype up the crowd I jumped up and down, yelling phrases such as “Orange station is the best station!” and “Woohoo Color Run!!!” I loved receiving the huge smiles and “woohoos” back, feeling the enthusiastic camaraderie between the volunteers and participants.
This Color Run was also a great exemplifier of an important quality in both Episcopal students and BoMF members. We’re resilient. Seeing as how our stations were right by the water and the day was a mere 50 degrees, it was extremely windy and cold. With a mix of colored chalk and sand blowing in my eyes, I’ll admit, I was worried it might be hard to keep a group of teenagers engaged.
However, this was not the case at all. There was no complaining. No hiding out in the bathroom. All of us immersed ourselves in the craziness of it all. Laughing, smiling, and constantly throwing color, everyone persevered through the weather and had a good time. The color throwers at my station all looked like they had gotten bad spray tans, amusingly covered head to toe in orange. We were honored to help out Back on My Feet in a small way, and took full advantage of our role there.
The other EHS station, yellow, was right on the edge of the waterfront. This group actively threw its color despite the fact that the wind carried most of it away, not letting anything get in the way of their jobs. They also showed the same attention and excitement to every runner or walker, from the serious runners, to the mothers carrying babies, to the girl on crutches in a colorful boot, to the man in a full unicorn suit, to the grandparents in tutus. Despite less than ideal conditions, volunteering was a huge success.
Our morning at the Color Run was an easy and fun way to give back to our community. I know EHS could get involved in future Back on My Feet fundraisers, and I hope anyone else who is considering volunteering for BoMF goes for it! Interning at Back on My Feet for the month of May continues to be such an amazing and rewarding experience, and the people behind BoMF D.C. are making such a difference in the D.C. and Alexandria area. If you’d like to donate, join Back on My Feet for a morning run, or check out their future events (I’ve included the links below). The Episcopal volunteers send a huge thank you to Back on My Feet for getting us involved in the Color Run this past Sunday. Go orange team!
Knock Knock!
*whose there*
Orange!
*Orange who*
Orange you sad you didn’t volunteer at the Color Run?
Back on My Feet Silent Auction Items! Take a look and bid!
https://501auctions.com/bomfdcbash/category/all/1
Fundrace at the D.C. Rock and Roll half marathon!
http://dc.backonmyfeet.org/event/dc-rock-n-roll-marathon-half-marathon-2016
Photos courtesy of Tate Mikkelsen '16
