Tutu Run participants to take off Feb. 1 to raise scholarship funds

There will be women, men, children and for the first time dogs--all running in tutus in Spring Valley Park, 2600 Mt. Olivet Road, when the 2.2 mile Tutu Run takes off at 2 p.m. Feb. 1.

The run participants will be helping to raise scholarship funds for the Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run, earmarked for those who could otherwise not afford to be part of the program that teaches girls not only to move, but also is a positive youth development program for girls in third through eighth grade.

Last year, more than $175,000 was awarded in scholarships by Girls on the Run and 66 percent of the nearly 1,900 girls served by Girls on the Run requested either full or partial financial support.

Tutus are optional (but highly encouraged) and may be purchased with online registration or on the day of the event, in limited quantity. Many participants make their own tutus at home. For steo-by-step instructions search for “how to make a no sew tutu.”

Before the run gets underway there will be a tutu contest with judges considering nine categories, including best dog in a tutu for the first time. Other categories are: best overall tutu, biggest tutu, best male tutu, best female tutu, best kids tutu, best couple tutus, best group tutus, and fastest tutu. The two grand prizes, from Bissell, are worth more than $500 each. Other prizes will be awarded from Bella Patina and many other local businesses. The Tutu run is sponsored by Honor Credit Union.

“Tutu Run is what we call ‘The Happiest 2.2 Miles of the Year’! It was created three years ago to bring the people of our community together in a fun, festive way after the New Year and before partaking in any Superbowl Sunday parties!" says Melisa Ellis Beeson, Director of Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run. "It’s all about being active and having fun– exactly the things we encourage throughout our Girls on the Run program."

Registration is $25  with Tutu Run T-shirt or $15 without T-shirt). To register and for more information click here.

The 2015 Girls on the Run program begins the week of March 2  and will run through May 21 when the program culminates with the annual Girls on the Run 5k at Western Michigan’s Waldo Stadium. Nearly 5,000 total runners and walkers participated in the 2014 Girls on the Run 5k event.