By John P. Evans III

Lads and lassies, ladies and gents, get your best blue dress out of the closet or borrow one from your spouse or girlfriend, find a pair of well-fitting high heels, and practice your sprinting skills, for it is time for the first annual Blue Dress Run, coming to North Caroline Senior High School Bulldog Stadium on Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The 0.1-kilometer run, that’s right – 328 feet – is the brainchild of the North Caroline Senior Class, which is sponsoring the fundraiser as its class project. All proceeds from the event will go to the Caroline County Counseling Center Addiction Program.

“My students wanted to do something to help fight drug abuse by teens in the county, most them saying they knew of someone who had died or suffered from drug abuse,” said Angela Garrett, the 2017 class advisor at NCHS, who also teaches English. “We were inspired by a similar event held in New Orleans (the Red Dress Run) that raises money through entry and registration fees to support local charities.

“Since addiction in Caroline County hits so close to home, and so many students’ friends and family are impacted by it, they decided to support the local addiction counseling program,” added Garrett. “We would like to make a positive impact on those in need of assistance for their addictions.”

There will actually be four “runs” on April 1. The 0.1K Blue Dress Run will be at noon and will be followed by three more runs: for kids under six (at 12:15), for runners in tutus (at 12:30) and for runners in heels (at 12:45). Prizes will be awarded for each event. There will also be a tug-of-war and cornhole tournament. A prize will also be awarded for the “most creative” outfit.

“This is our first attempt at hosting something like this, so at this point we just want to have fun and raise money for a deserving cause,” Garrett said. Garrett added that the entire senior class was really getting behind the event, some of the male class members even posing in drag for a poster publicizing the event.

“The sillier the better as far as the costume goes,” Garrett said. So find a dress, gown, cape, fairy wings, high heels and/or a tutu and come out and support a worthwhile charity. Guys are welcome, actually encouraged, to join in the fun as well.

The registration fee is $10. Entries received by March 15 are guaranteed a t-shirt. For more information, contact Garrett at 410-479-2332 or at garrett.angela@ccpsstaff.org.