On Saturday, 448 paint-covered Elon University students, faculty and staff were scattered all over South Campus after participating in the Colorful Run. Students ran and walked the 1.7 mile course to raise money for Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center.

As participants followed the course along the cross country trails, they navigated through clouds of colored powder thrown in every direction.

“The fact that I got to run with my friends, get covered in colors and raise money for such a deserving cause was incredible,” said first year Ian Heaton. “I’m definitely going to do this every year.”

The Colorful Run, which is based on the Hindu springtime celebration called Holi, involves blasting festival-goers with a powdered cornstarch dye as a symbol of joy and goodness.

The walkers and runners paid a $15 registration fee to participate, with the money going directly to Duke Children’s Hospital.

First brought to Elon in 2012, the Colorful Run is sponsored by Elonthon and Campus Recreation. The “fun factor” of the event motivates people who wouldn’t typically be active to participate and make the most of the experience.

“Collaborative exercise, as well as adding fun into the mix, encourages a lot of people who don’t regularly participate in physical activity to get involved,” said Health and Human Performance lecturer Elizabeth Bailey.

The run is a part of a growing national trend toward cloaking exercise in fun guises, such as the Raleigh Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, which has grown a faithful following thanks to its unique style of blaring rock music while marathoners run the course.

Members of the Elonthon committee were cheerleaders for the day as they stood alongside the course and motivated the participants. In the midst of the craziness and excitement, it was easy to forget the reason for running that day. But thanks to the Elonthon committee members, students were reminded of the real reason for the run ­— it’s all For The Kids.

“Since I’m a part of the Elonthon committee, I see a lot of the hard work that goes into planning events like this, and it’s awesome to know how much of a difference things like this make for the families who need us,” said junior Katie Dalton.

The 2015 Elonthon Dance Marathon is scheduled for April 10-11 in Alumni Gym. Last year, it faltered with a drop in donors and participants, from which organizers seek to rebound for this year’s event to come.