Over 300 people joined Inspire on Sunday 26th June at the Stormont Estate to paint the town colourful.
The event was organised to bring together friends, families and communities after a tough few years, whilst supporting Inspire’s services.
Sponsored by Dunelm, the unique fun run saw the grounds of Stormont Estate blasted with colour as participants made their way around the route.
All proceeds raised on the day will go towards supporting Inspire as it assists those living with mental ill health, intellectual disability, autism and addictions.
Alongside the run itself, and in collaboration with social enterprise ArtsEkta, a range of performances showcased the Colour Run’s origins in Eastern culture and the festival of Holi, including traditional Dohl drummers and Bollywood dancers.
Inspire Group Chief Executive Kerry Anthony said:
“We are delighted to have been able to facilitate such an inclusive, vibrant, and fun-packed afternoon on the grounds of the Stormont Estate. Taking the Colour Run back to its roots by incorporating the themes of the festival of Holi: love, culture and new beginnings, brought of the uniqueness of Colour Run while also supporting the importance of mental resilience in our communities.
“We know that the past few years have been difficult and taken a particular toll on the mental health of many people across society. Thanks to the generosity of our brilliant participants, we are able to boost support for our services which make a real difference to the lives of many people in Northern Ireland.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our sponsor Dunelm, our partner ArtsEkta, and our amazing volunteers for their support in making this such a special day.”
Dunelm’s Head of Community, Janice Dunne, said:
“We were so pleased to support this fantastic event as part of our partnership with Inspire. The afternoon was the perfect opportunity for families, friends and communities to come together and enjoy a day celebrating their resilience and unity, and support mental wellbeing.
It was fantastic to see so many people – including our staff – taking part.”
Executive Director of ArtsEkta Nisha Tandon OBE said:
“It was fantastic to play a role in Inspire’s Colour Run event and combine cultural performances, including our Bollywood dancers and traditional Dhol Drummers, with a really important cause to make a truly unique celebration. It was hugely encouraging to see so many people getting behind the spirit of the day.”
Check out the gallery below for photos of the day.
