A COLOUR dash organised before the coronavirus lockdown has raised more than £2,000 for charity, it was announced this week.

Ripon Grammar School student Araminta Praud organised the event which involved youngsters racing a course round the school grounds and being showered with colourful powder paint.

The event raised £2,705 for the Prince’s Trust youth charity, which is currently running a Coronavirus Support Hub for young people, as well as providing vital job, education and training opportunities.

Araminta organised the fun-filled event, which took place the day before the government banned all mass gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 18-year-old, from Boroughbridge, who worked with the Prince’s Trust previously through school, explained why she chose the charity: “The work they do is really important to me."

The Northern Echo:

"They help underprivileged young people my age and give them the opportunities that I am lucky enough to have.

"I strongly believe everyone should have the same opportunities, no-one should be limited.”

She is delighted to have raised so much money, saying: "My aim was to raise £1,000.

"I never expected to raise this much. In these testing times I know this money is going to a great cause.

"The Prince’s Trust is helping support young people with their new Coronavirus Support Hub whilst also continuing to provide opportunities through their other programmes for those aged 11 to 30.”

She described the atmosphere at Colour Dash as amazing: “Everyone seemed really excited and it was so lovely to see families out together having fun.

"At the finish line, where I was handing out medals, everybody was smiling and laughing, supporting each other and taking photos.

"It was clear the event had been a success.

The Northern Echo:

“To see families and friends crossing the finish line together was a really proud moment for me.

“My aim when I started was to encourage people to spend time together outside and seeing it happen was amazing. I’ve even had people enquiring about next year.”

Araminta, who set up Facebook and Instagram pages along with a website, says she gained a multitude of skills from organising the event.

She said: “It was so much broader and more complex than I thought it would be.

"I’ve had to read legal documents, as well as focus on marketing.

The Northern Echo:

"Time management has also been crucial and I’ve had to maintain a professional tone with customers and vendors at all times.

"There is so much more going on behind the scenes of an event than I’d ever imagined.”

She secured a contribution from a benevolent fund, as well as corporate sponsorship from Yorkshire-based Harron Homes which covered the cost of the paint for the finish line photo, resulting in a larger donation to the Prince’s Trust.