Pictured are the class of 2028 officers, left to right Levi Munsee, Class Treasurer, Alexis Becker, Class Secretary, Andrew Apthorpe, Class President, Emma Ferguson, Class Historian, and Oliver Burgeson, Class Vice-President. The class will be holding a color run on Memorial Day. Submitted photo

PANAMA — It is set to be a colorful Memorial Day at Panama Central School as the class of 2028 prepares to host a 5K Color Run and Walk, with proceeds to go towards St Susan Center.

The Color Run begins at 8:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, with an 8 a.m. check in, in conjunction with the village’s parade and multiple other events happening that weekend, with registration going until May 17. Registration is open now and available at https://tinyurl.com/8uvn6ny8. Money will benefit the class senior trip along with St Susan Center.

“It’s a great way to raise more money for our senior trip and to support a local organization,” class secretary Alexis Becker said.

Besides having a fundraiser for their own senior trip, the class chose to also donate to St Susan Center, as they wanted to keep what money they raised going towards a local organization. Civic mindedness is also encouraged for class fundraisers like this by their advisors.

“We wanted to keep the funds in the community,” class vice president Oliver Burgeson said. “It’s more meaningful to donate locally than to a big organization.”

The fundraising aspect of the run is not the only aspect of it that is important to the class. The ability to make memories with friends and family means a lot to them as well.

“My sister and her class did a fundraiser like this,” class president Andrew Apthorpe said. “I have some very fun memories of doing that with family and friends, and we got a fun shirt.”

Similarly, Emma Ferguson, class historian, said having a color run not only helps one connect and make memories with their friends and family but with the overall community as well.

“This event allows people to connect with their community, make memories and spend time with friends and family,” Ferguson said.

It was also noted that the event is a run and walk, and open to anyone to participate.

“It’s a flat, easy course,” Levi Munsee, class treasurer said. “You don’t need to be a marathon runner to participate.”

The class also stressed that funds will be going towards St Susan Center, a local organization that also focuses on helping people. Besides the Color Run, the class will also be having a bake sale and basket raffle.

“We hope we can get other honor societies and schools to participate and have teams,” one of the class advisors, Helen Keefe, said. “Expenses are continuing to rise, so students have to raise more funds to be able to go on their senior trip. We hope we can get businesses and families to sign up as teams. You can bike, you can walk, you can run, you can do it however you want to do it.”

Keefe said they are encouraging people to come out to the village of Panama on Memorial Day, not only for the event but for all the other activities as well, and they are really looking to increase the amount of teams they have signed up. Her co-advisor, Dave Becker, added that they are coordinating with the local Panama fire department to make sure the trail is safe. The fire department also has a chicken barbeque happening on Memorial Day, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

“We really try to stack events on that day because it is a big day for the village,” Becker said. “We try to get the community to come together for events like this.”

For more information Keefe and Becker can be reached at hkeefe@pancent.org and dbecker@pancent.org.