DHS Colour Run

On Wednesday 3rd April Down High School was a hub of excitement and anticipation as the school hosted its first Colour Run. While the weather refused to co-operate, our pupils embraced the event whole-heartedly and the enthusiasm around the school created a great buzz in the run-up to the event. More than eight hundred pupils participated as well as fifty members of staff. The day was a tremendous success and raised £12,129.56 for the school resource fund. The money will go to support pupils’ learning experiences across subject areas.

The school would like to thank the nine local companies who sponsored the event: Lindsay Graham Estate Agents, Konfigr, Brunel’s Restaurant, Bonny’s Caravan Park, Clough Pharmacy, Picnic Delicatessen, Dufferin Arms, NFU Mutual, Saintfield and Mooney’s Chemist. The school is extremely grateful for the generosity shown by these local businesses. We would also like to thank the pupils who worked hard in the months prior to the Colour Run to raise the rest of the sponsorship money. A special mention must be given to James Wright 8S who raised £165 and Grace Orr 8L and Hugo Jackson 9D who both raised over £100. They were rewarded for their hard work and effort with Amazon vouchers.

This event saw participants “dashing” through multi-coloured powder at various locations around the school playing fields. All participants on the day were kitted out in Down High Colour Run t-shirts and fetching green sunglasses. The pristine white t-shirts were suitably covered in coloured paint by the end of the 5 kilometre course. The pupils walked, jogged and ran their way around the course, passing gleeful teachers as they threw cupfuls of coloured dust over the approaching children. School DJ Jack Whiffen ensured that the atmosphere remained energetic and Paul Acheson did an excellent job compering the event.

After the run the pupils enjoyed a paint party in front of the pavilion. This spectacle saw pupils dousing themselves and their fellow pupils with individual paint pouches and paint blasters were also on hand to ensure that all participants were suitably ‘coloured’ by the end of the proceedings. To wind down after their exertions pupils enjoyed some more music during the Paint Party.

A huge thank you must go to Mrs Gillespie for organising the event seamlessly to ensure that maximum fun was had on the day. Mrs Gillespie would also like to thank Mr McKillen and Mr Daniels for all of the help and guidance they provided; Linda Murray and Katy Carson in the school Finance office who were invaluable; Mr Morrow for helping to co-ordinate the photos and edit video footage; Mr Knox for helping to organise the course and the school caretakers Robert Ellis and Paul Bryce without whom the day would not have been possible. Well done to all of the pupils who participated in this highly worthwhile event.

Photos courtesy of Chris Haplin