Bullhook Community Health Center color run Saturday

Saturday, Aug. 14, Havre's Bullhook Community Health Center will be putting on its annual Color Fun Run/Walk to close out Community Health Center Week.

"National Health Center week is a way to celebrate the community health centers and raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments that we have provided to our patients over the past five decades. And community health centers are part of a national network, but we're individual and we serve almost 30 million people nationwide," Bullhook's CEO Kyndra Hall said.

Hall said community health centers save American taxpayers about $24 billion a year in health care costs by preventing and managing chronic diseases.

"(Bullhook Community Health Center has) played a really big pivotal part in providing services to those that necessarily couldn't afford it, or they were uninsured or underinsured. And we've since grown, and we accept any patients, no matter what your income level is," Hall said.

Hall said the health center offers a sliding fee discount program so people under the 200 percent poverty level can get discounted services and help to pay their bills so that they can afford to get the treatment that they need.

She said the color run will have COVID-19 safety measures in place.

"To ensure everyone's safety, we will be practicing social distancing and asking participants to wear a mask during registration," a Bullhook Facebook post about the color run said Wednesday. "If you have a mask, please bring it, and, if not, we will provide you with one. We're excited to see you on Saturday. Come ready to run, walk, dance or skip through the street! Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the event will start at 10 a.m."

Hall said volunteers will be wearing masks, adding they will be wearing gloves to serve the food and people won't be able to dish themselves up. She said after the color run ends, tables and the chairs after the color red will be all socially distant and spread apart.

Hall said being careful about COVID-19 is still crucial.

"The delta variant is in Hill County," she said. "It's more highly contagious, and so people really need to be diligent about washing their hands, wearing their masks, getting their vaccinations."

Hall said vaccination doesn't necessarily keep people from getting COVID-19 but vaccination reduces symptoms, adding that hopefully people won't end up hospitalized.

"So we're just really pushing people to keep that awareness and that the pandemic is not over," Hall said.

"Our color run is just a way to cap off the week, do something fun for our community, bring awareness to the community health center. All this week, we are doing Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccinations," she said. "We also have discounted sports physicals going on this week. And then also free fluoride treatments for kiddos and the candy guessing game, and then a coloring contest," she added.

The event page says "The BCHC Color Fun 1 Mile or 5K Run/Walk is your chance to run, walk, skip or dance through the streets. Along the course you, your friends and our community will get covered in bright, fun colored powder (non-toxic) at a series of color stations, ending in a color celebration!"

"The Fun Run/Walk will start and end at the Bullhook Community Health Center parking lot. A commemorative race T-shirt and sunglasses come with your registration while supplies last, so sign up early," the page continues.

The event's sign-up page notes online registration ended Aug. 4 but says people may still register the day of the event starting at 8 a.m. Registration will be $45.

The registration fee will include a commemorative T-shirt and sunglasses while supplies last and people will be able to participate in the barbecue following the race.

The week also included a patient appreciation day. The week wraps up with the color fun run and following barbecue.