Luton Foodbank 2026 5k Charity Colour Run

Join us in Wardown Park to run, jog, or walk the 5km route while being showered with coloured powder. It's great fun for all the family, and by getting sponsored (optional) you'll be helping us ensure no-one in Luton goes hungry.

The course: Participants make their way around a 5km course, while being showered with brightly coloured powder by foodbank volunteers.

Who can take part: It's an event for all the family, with an emphasis on fun over athletic prowess. So if running isn't your thing, it's fine to walk! (But if you like a challenge, the event record is 26 minutes.)

Extra goodies: Register before Monday 22 June, and get free official t-shirt, sunglasses, and participation medal.

Spectators welcome: Come along and cheer for the runners, then gather on the green behind the museum for the prizegiving.

Register here on our Eventbrite page. The registration amount enables us to provide a food parcel for one person.

Team entry couldn't be simpler: When you receive your confirmation email from Eventbrite, After checkout, just email [email protected] with your order number, your team name, and the names of team members.

Please wear OLD clothes!Extra parking space will be available at Popes Meadow.

• 9:30am - Sign in and collect your t-shirt* from the registration desk. Please remember to bring your Eventbrite ticket. The registration desk will be in front of the the boathouse, which is near the suspension bridge, and on the opposite side of the lake from the snack kiosk.)PLEASE NOTE: The map at the top of this page was automatically generated by Eventbrite, and its location pin does NOT indicate the meeting point. Please see our own map below for more accurate information. Or you can download the printable map.

• Before 10am - Make your way to the start line. This is on the lakeside path between the boathouse and the SMALL pedestrian bridge.

• 10am - Run! Or walk, if you prefer - either way, be prepared to be showered with coloured powder whenever you pass a colour station.

• Afterwards: Wait near the finish line. It's prizegiving time, with trophies for category winners. (See below for details.)
  * These items are not available to anyone who registers after 4pm on Monday 22 June.

1. Overall Winner
2. Fastest under 16 yrs (on day of run)
3. Runner with highest sponsorship
4. School with highest sponsorship
5. Biggest team
6. Special award for Colour Run Superstar, awarded by Luton Foodbank Chair to the person we judge to have achieved the best covering of coloured powder.

If you can, try to get sponsors so that we can get food parcels to even more people.

You could ask friends, family, and colleagues to sponsor you. If you work for a medium- or large-sized company, you might be surprised at how willing they can often be to make a generous corporate donation. Either way, it's important to set yourself a goal and start finding sponsors right away, because you won't want to miss your target.

Suggested fundraising

• £200 for 10 Adult Food Parcels.
• £150 for 10 Child Food Parcels.

If you don't want to fundraise, you can donate directly on our JustGiving page.

There are two ways to raise money for as many food parcels as you can

1. Online. You can set up a JustGiving account and send a link to friends, family and other contacts so they can easily sponsor you online. No need to worry about collecting the money from people, and we receive the money you raise directly. You can link your JustGiving page to our main Colour Run 2026 page here on Eventbrite.
2. Sponsor form. Download and print the sponsorship form. Get your sponsors to enter their details and the amount they want to give. Once the money is collected, please bring it (with sponsor form)to Luton Foodbank, or send your form with a cheque made out to "Luton Foodbank Ltd", to Luton Foodbank, Unit 3, Hightown Enterprise Centre, York Street, Luton, LU2 0HA. Please send sponsorship money to arrive by Monday 13 July 2026. (You can also drop your form and money in person, but please call ahead to confirm we're open.)

Whichever method you choose, please encourage your sponsors to tick the Gift Aid box, as this adds 25% to their donation at no extra cost to them. If you're using the form, please make sure you include it with your cheque so we are able to claim the Gift Aid.

We recommend you get advice on how to train for your run. If you are not used to running, it's really important that you start gently, and work your way up. Try the free NHS Couch to 5K programme, which has accompanying apps for Android and iPhone. The event is open to all, but if you're not used to this kind of activity, you should consult your doctor first.

You can get great practice by joining Luton Wardown Parkrun (5K) or Luton Wardown Junior Parkrun (2K) which are free-to-join regular Saturday morning events run by volunteers. Optionally, you can sign up on their website before going along, so you can be issued with a barcode which they use to time your run. Our Colour Run course is closely based on the Parkrun circuit, so you'll be able to get a really good idea of how your training is going.

We strongly recommend wearing only old clothes. The coloured powder should wash out nicely, but this can't be guaranteed. If driving home, we also advise bringing something to cover your car seats.

By registering for this event, you are certifying you are medically fit to take part and that the organisers will in no way be held responsible for injury or illness during or as a result of the event.

Free goodies (sunglasses, medal, t-shirt) are not guaranteed if you register after after 4pm on Monday 22 June. This is because we have to order the items in advance.

Luton's favourite fun run would not be possible without the generosity of kind sponsors. Their contributions are very much appreciated.

Please get in touch if you'd like your company to be involved: [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Luton Foodbank