Wanganui Collegiate School Colour Dash to raise funds for World Vision 40 Hour Famine

Ethan Gillespie, second from left, is one of the key organisers of the Colour Dash and thought of the idea last year. Photo / Bevan Conley

Hundreds of people will be covered in colour when they take part in a Wanganui Collegiate School World Vision fun run.

The Colour Dash will be 4km long and at various distances coloured powder will be launched at the participants.

It is all about raising money for World Vision as the 40 Hour Famine approaches, this year focusing on raising funds to fight famine in South Sudan.

Year 13 student Ethan Gillespie, 17, is a key organiser of the event.

"It's a fun run over 4km, every kilometre is an achievement so at these stages you will get colour powder thrown at you to celebrate.

"The thought is that you'll wear a white shirt, you'll get these colours splashed on it and at the end you'll have quite a colourful cool shirt."

The Colour Dash starts at 10.30am on June 17 at Kowhai Park and Ethan hopes as many people as possible will take part.

More than 5000 students from the Manawatu-Whanganui region will give something up for the 2018 40 Hour Famine starting on June 8.

It is New Zealand's largest youth fundraising event, with an estimated 90,000 participants raising about $1.9 million.

About 100 unaccompanied, separated or at-risk children cross the border from South Sudan into Uganda each day seeking safety, and the money raised will go towards helping them.

Ethan said he has supported World Vision at Wanganui Collegiate School during his entire five-year tenure there.

"I'm not too sure how much further back that support goes, but Collegiate has a strong history with supporting the 40 Hour Famine.

"For me it has always been an opportunity to help others, to help those less fortunate than us in New Zealand and those that don't have the necessities that they need."

The event is open for anyone to enter, tickets can be bought through Eventbrite and cost $21.97 adult, $15 student under 18 and $10 child under 12.