Annual HICF Positively Pink 5K Draws a Colorful Crowd
The soundside Kinnakeet Shores neighborhood was the most colorful spot on Hatteras Island on Saturday morning, thanks to the annual HICF Positively Pink 5K.
Celebrating its 15th year, the October event is a popular fundraiser for the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation (HICF), and serves as a great opportunity for people to don their hottest shades of pink, while supporting an organization that helps local residents battling all varieties of cancer. The event raised over $9,600.
This year, dozens of runners and walkers of all ages hit the Avon streets on Saturday morning to show their support for women battling breast cancer. There were plenty of longstanding and repeat participants in the sea of pink, but there were also some new faces in the crowd as well.
Jen Bauguss and Rebecca Sink of Lexington, North Carolina heard about the 5K and decided to make a girls’ weekend trip to Hatteras Island to join in the fun. Donning pink tutus, wigs, and even matching shades, the ladies were perfectly dressed for the occasion, with Rebecca winning the coveted prize for most “Pinked out.”
“I used to work for a non-profit that [did] cancer research, so I have ‘pinked out’ many times in the past,” said Rebecca, who is a long-time visitor to Hatteras Island.
“I have been running for five years, so I thought, ‘I wonder what running attire I have in my closet that’s pink?’” said Jen. “As it turns out, I had just about everything but the tutu.”
The event drew a number of cancer survivors of all ages and their supporters, as well as friends, kids, adults, and even a few appropriately costumed dogs. The pink-infused crowd launched from the starting line next to the Sun Realty building in Avon, and walked, biked, ran, and even scooted through the neighborhood before returning to the finish line.
After the race, the crowd mingled with neighbors and friends while awaiting the announcement of prizes, which included a perfectly colorful gift basket from Lee Robinson General Store, as well as a number of goodies from Island Cycles.
Medals were given out to the overall top three finishers, as well as the top finishers for men and women in an array of age groups. The prizes for “most pink” were also divvied out among the crowd, to the sounds of applause and cheers for the enthusiastically attired winners.
The warm weather and light breeze brought an extra dose of sunshine to the already bright and festive event, and more than one participant said they were already looking forward to next year.
“I love it here, and want to live here someday,” said Rebecca, “so we will definitely be back.”
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Click to view a list of the winners
GOLD: Scratchmade Snackery • Mead L. Slagle, DDS • Cape Hatteras Motel
East Cape Clothing Co. • Greater Kinnakeet Shores
Silver: Sun Realty • Hatteras Helping Hands • Studio 12 • Cape Hatteras Cooperative • Hatteras Realty
The Larson Family • Atalntic Coast Cafe • NC Beach Buggy Association • Orange Blossom Bakery
SeaWorthy Gallery • Risky Business Seafood • Hatteras Designs • CresCom Banks
Hatteras Parasail / Happy Belly Ice Cream • Kostich & O’Neal CPA
Bronze: Hatteras Marlin Club • Hatteras Wedding Minstries • Outer Beaches Realty • Michael Halminski Photography
