Oct. 7 fun run will help raise money for Playlab

Families that would like to get an early start on wearing their Halloween costumes will have the chance to do that and more on Saturday, Oct. 7. Those who would like to combine dressing up, exercise, family time and supporting a cause will have their chance at the Monster Mash 5k and Family Fun Run.

The races will start and end at the Wayne County Children’s STEAM Playlab at LincWay in Dalton, with the 1-mile fun run starting at 9 a.m. and the 5k at 9:30 a.m. Those running or walking the fun run will be motivated during the race to get to the next candy spot, which will be placed along the race. And event-goers have a chance at winning a Playlab backpack filled with goodies for the costume contest winner and 5k winner.

This is the second year for the Monster Mash, and Lori Colon, the founder and CEO of the Wayne County Children’s STEAM Playlab, said they plan to do it yearly. However, this is the first year it will be held at the Playlab, 258 N. Kurzen Road, Dalton.

“We are doing the 5k as one of our our annual fundraisers that is going to the buildout of our exhibit space,” Colon said. “We have brought it onto the LincWay property this year to give more exposure to the LincWay spaces. Any money raised goes directly to our interior exhibits that are being designed for the brand-new children’s science center.”

Colon said the Wayne County Children’s STEAM Playlab, a brand-new children’s science center, is still fundraising for the interior exhibits. Although phase one of getting the architectural drawings completed for the building is finished, it’s now on to the next part of getting walls up and bathrooms and offices completed. When 80% of the funding is raised, the exhibit sets will be completed.

The idea for a local children’s science center came to Colon several years back when she asked for experiences for her children and family rather than traditional Christmas gifts. One was a certificate to COSI in Columbus, and it was there Colon realized she wanted a similar place in the local community.

“It was then that a desire was born to have a place in our community for children to creatively explore, dream, build, research, be taught, be inspired and learn,” Colon said. “As an early childhood educator and director, I was part of a community of professionals including parents, educators and children who taught me that the most important tool we can gift our children is the power of play.”

Colon said the Playlab has been in a $7 million capital campaign, and she often gets asked when it will open. There isn’t a set date at this point as fundraising continues. As a nonprofit, the Playlab is 100% dependent on grants and the support of the community.

“It is not a matter of if we will open. It is a matter of when, and that is just dependent on how funding comes,” Colon said. “Often, we have businesses or groups that will say, ‘We will give to this project when you are further down the road with it,’ (but) unfortunately, we are only able to move forward as quick as the grants and support come. I regularly do open houses and invite anyone interested in hearing more to follow us on Facebook or reach out to myself at Loric.wccsp@gmail.com.”

Although the Oct. 7 event is fairly easy to plan, Colon said the hard part is getting runners to participate who do not have something already going on that Saturday morning. “We try to keep it early enough to get people out and then on with their day,” she said.

The cost for the family fun walk/run is $20 each, although children pushed in strollers are free. All ages are welcome to pay the registration fee of $25 to run or walk the 5k, which will start and end in the LincWay parking lot, with part of the course on Kurzen Road. Awards will be given for age group winners in the 5k. All participants will receive a free T-shirt, and there will be awards for the best costumes.

The LincWay Cafe will be open in the early morning, offering coffee and light breakfast options. Two food trucks and Dutch Kitchen also will be open.

Those unable to come to the Monster Mash 5k who would still like to give can visit www.wccsp.org and click the donate button at the top. To register for the races, people can go to https://endurancecui.active.com/.

“I love that this event brings both young and old and exposes people to our location,” Colon said. “There are a lot of people that have never heard of us, and more exposure will hopefully bring more support to finish this project quicker.”