A dash of color

CLOVIS — With colored powder flying every which way, more than 200 runners took part in Saturday's National Crime Victims' Rights Week Color Dash at Hillcrest Park.

The scene was more like a Jackson Pollock painting than your average road race.

Money raised from the event was donated to the Hartley House, the local domestic violence shelter that provides services for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, as well as a batterers intervention program.

"The Hartley House is going to receive something in the neighborhood of $8,000 from this. It makes a huge difference," Hartley House President of the Board of Directors Nick Holmes said.

Holmes said the money raised from the color run, along with a private donation, will more than cover the Hartley House's $10,000 remodel of the shelter's bathroom to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"It's going to help us better be able to serve crime victims, domestic abuse victims who are in wheelchairs (or with other special needs)," Holmes said.

Jessica Baca said she appreciated so many people coming out in support of the Hartley House.

"I'm just excited that I'm able to be here and I'm glad that they put this on — not only for me being a survivor of domestic violence but for others that have battled that or been through that and just to help out the Hartley House," Baca said.

Jared Cook said he was volunteered by someone else to take part in the 5K run, but was glad he did.

"It was fun, man, it was a good time. I haven't ran like this in 10 years," Cook said.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said she was happy to see such a good turnout despite the 40-degree temperatures.

Holmes said the turnout speaks to the giving nature of the Clovis community and the people who live here.

"It's cold, it's windy ... everybody's all bundled up," he said. "(But) people are having a great time. It's going to raise us a lot of money, money that we need."