WEST CHESTER — Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline and District Attorney Deb Ryan announce details of the fifth annual Chester County Color 5K run and walk, raising funds to combat the opioid and heroin epidemic in the county.
This year’s Color 5K will take place at Everhart Park in West Chester, on Saturday October 9, 2021. Pre-race registration is open now for individuals and teams, at www.chesco.org/color5k. Race-day registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the race starts at 9:00 a.m.
Presenting sponsor for the 2021 Chester County Color 5K is the John R. Gailey III and JoEllen Berger Charitable Fund.
Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz said, “We are extremely grateful to the trustees of the John R. Gailey III and JoEllen Berger Charitable Fund for this transformational contribution. This lead sponsorship will truly help us to leverage even more funding as we seek to find solutions to help those suffering from opioid addiction.”
Each of the previous Chester County Color 5K events have attracted more than 1,000 participants and supporters, and raised more than $160,000. Funds raised through this year’s Color 5K will specifically support Chester County’s innovative Community Outreach Prevention and Education – or COPE – program.
Through the COPE program, overdose survivors who are being treated in the emergency rooms at any hospital in Chester County can meet with a certified recovery specialist within an hour of entering the ER. The peer specialist engages with the overdose survivor and provides personal support and a direct connection to treatment and recovery services.
“The goal of COPE is to work with overdose survivors, helping to move them from the ER to treatment, with their approval, regardless of insurance status,” said Commissioner Josh Maxwell. “COPE peer specialists also work with the overdose survivor’s family and friends to advise on how to navigate insurance coverage, ways to get treatment, and to provide Narcan and educate them how to use it. It has already proven to be a successful program, and money coming from this year’s Color 5K will help to expand it.”
Commissioner Michelle Kichline, whose determination to address the opioid and heroin crisis in Chester County led to the first and subsequent Chester County Color 5K events, added: “Never before was a service like the COPE program available, especially to the extent that it is now. We were so disappointed to have to take a break from the Color 5K because of the pandemic, but on October 9th we will be able to once again run – and walk – to fight the devastating control that opioids have taken on so many people that we love.”
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, “Chester County had 105 people die from drug overdoses in 2020, the majority of which involved fentanyl. These deaths were preventable with intervention and treatment. My office wholeheartedly supports the Color 5K because it’s a chance for our community to unite in a fun and healthy way against the devastating effects of drugs.”
Sponsorship opportunities for the Chester County Color 5K are available at many levels for companies and individuals. For more information on all levels of sponsorship contact, Rebecca Brain, Chester County Public Information Officer, at 610-344-6279 or email rbrain@chesco.org.
The Chester County Color 5K is administered by the Chester County Community Foundation. All Color 5K sponsorships can be noted as 501©(3) charitable tax deductions.
For all information on the 2021 Chester County Color 5K, go to www.chesco.org/color5K.
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