First Colour Dash a dazzling success
The inaugural Rose Road Colour Dash is hailed as a dazzling success, bringing over 130 people together, including Rose Road staff, families and young people, to raise over £7,000 to support children and young adults with complex disabilities.
Held on Sunday, June 14, the event took place at Wide Lane Sports Ground in Eastleigh and featured a fully accessible 5km route with vibrant colour stations. Participants were covered in bright powder as they walked, ran, danced, or wheeled around the fully accessible course.
Harry Richardson, 27, has been supported by the charity since he was six years old.
His mum, Lynette Richardson, 65, said everyday he enjoys activities like music, swimming, dancing and cooking. She said: "Today is great for all the young people, to get out and take part."
Harry said the whole day had been "amazing" and that his favourite part was "all of it". He said: "I love having the powder thrown all over me, I really love it."
Krystal Walker, a Respite manager, was taking part with several young people who use Rose Road's services.
She said: "Everyone coming together for the community was the best part of the day. Having the parents, staff and partners come, it really does feel like a family and a community.
"It's very inclusive. Whether you are in a wheelchair or walking, it just really proves that it doesn't matter what your ability is, you can absolutely get involved in something like this."
She added: "Its also nice to be out in the sunshine on a day like this, and also exercise is really good for your mental health, so having the sunshine and being out in the fresh air is great."
Jackie Snow was running the dash with her daughters Amy and Keri, and her sister, Jen Slowen.
Jackie said: "When Amy was little we used Rose Road for respite, so there is a deep connection there. Amy is 40 now, so that was 30 years ago, but Rose Road has always been a connection of ours because they really helped the family at the beginning."
Jackie added: "Its a really great event, everyone is in really good spirits and the weather had obviously been a bonus."
Keri said: "Rose Road just makes such a difference for the individuals, and for siblings. As Amy's younger sister it made such a difference for me when I was younger. We did things at the weekend that we wouldn't have been able to do if Rose Road hadn't been available."
Keri added: "Today has been really great fun, Amy has loved it, it's just been so great."
Michelle Bowdidge, Head of Fundraising at Rose Road, said: "The event is the first of its kind for us".
We really wanted to bring the local community together to raise awareness and funds to enable a future where we can continue supporting local disabled young people and their families. This is so important as we look ahead to our 75th anniversary in 2027 - we intend this event to be even bigger, better, and brighter next year.".
"Seeing so many of the young people we support taking part has really embodied our ethos of promoting and celebrating inclusion and bringing the community together, as well as enabling positive participation and a real sense of achievement for disabled people".
Volunteers helped make the event a success
Jack Williamson, Fundraising Stewardship Officer, says "We would like to say a massive thank you to the army of volunteers who came to help on the day to marshal along the route, help with registration, car parking and especially to man the colour stations and cover our participants in colour!
This included a team from GoodGym Southampton, Southampton Magna Rotary, Eastleigh Lions and Rose Road staff and ambassadors. The event would not have run so smoothly without your support".
Register your interest for the Colour Dash 2027
Bookings will open again soon for the 2027 Colour Dash! To be sure you're the first to hear and register at a special Earlybird rate, click below to register your interest to hear more.
Here are some more photos from the day:
