
About the Challenge
Join the Ultimate Colour-Filled Adventure!
Caudwell Children’s Colour Runner is back, bigger and brighter than ever! We’ve proudly partnered with Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Centenary Celebrations to bring you a day bursting with excitement and, of course, colour—all to support disabled and autistic children across the UK.
Whether you’re an experienced runner or looking for a fun family day out, there’s a route for everyone:
5KM Accessible Route – A fully accessible course, perfect for those ready to take on a colour-filled challenge!
So, grab your trainers, sunglasses, and paint, and get ready for an explosion of colour!
What You Need to Know
The Colour Runner is taking place on 19th July 2025 at Hanley Park, Cleveland Rd, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
Participants can take part in a fully accessible 5KM route thanks to the park’s flat paths and well-planned course layout.
To secure your place, you will need to pay a registration fee and set target fundraising target.
- Registration Fee: Adults - £20 and Children - £15
- Fundraising Target: Adults - £50 and Children - £25
Ready to take on the challenge? Register your interest here. If you need any support, check our FAQs below or contact the Challenges Team on 01782 433 750 or email challenges@caudwellchildren.com
Media Consent
Caudwell Children will be taking photos and filming at the Colour Runner event for promotional and marketing purposes. These images and videos may be used across our social media, website, and other printed and digital promotional materials. Due to the nature of the event, we cannot guarantee the exclusion of individuals in large crowd shots. By attending the Colour Runner event, you consent to having your image captured by our photographer and videographer.
Key Accessibility features:
- Fully paved and flat route for easy accessibility
- Disabled toilet and disabled portable toilet available on-site
- Dedicated disabled parking close to the registration desk and start line
- Sensory park available within Hanley Park

How We Will Support You
Our Challenges team is here to support you every step of the way through phone, email, WhatsApp, and virtual meetings. Whether you’re preparing for your event, fundraising, or have questions, we’re always available to ensure you feel supported and confident.
You have access to to our fundraising resources and our tips for fundraising success with hints and tips for organising fundraising, PR and posting your journey on social media. Plus, we will supply you with a personalised Caudwell Children colour runner t-shirt to wear proudly during your challenge.
Colour Runner FAQs
- Registration opens at 09:15am and closes at 10:00am
- The start line paint throw commences at 10:20
- Race begins at 10:30am
- Event ends at 14:00
£20 for adults (ages 15 and over)
£15 for children (aged up to 14 years old, must be accompanied by an adult)
This includes a Caudwell Children Colour Run T-shirts and a completion medal!
The minimum fundraising target for adults is £50, whilst the minimum fundraising target for children is £25.
We offer support and materials to help with hitting your fundraising targets – some resources can be found here fundraising resources
You can register via this link
Yes- Caudwell Children will be taking photos and filming at the Colour Runner event for promotional and marketing purposes. These images and videos may be used across our social media, website, and other printed and digital promotional materials. Due to the nature of the event, we cannot guarantee the exclusion of individuals in large crowd shots.
By attending the Colour Runner event, you consent to having your image captured by our photographer and videographer.
The sponsorship target of £50 for adults and £25 for children is there in order to help as many children as possible, our challenges team will provide you with resources etc. if you are concerned, please contact challenges@caudwellchildren.com.
Our team will be on hand to support you through your fundraising journey and fundraising targets are set to help you achieve your final fundraising target. Unfortunately, due to the costs associated with each challenge, if you are unable to raise the minimum amount, we would have to release your place. However, this is extremely rare and our challenges team will provide you with resources, ideas and support to ensure you achieve your fundraising target.
Hanley Park, Cleveland Rd, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4DX
Road directions:
Hanley Park is in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, within walking distance of Stoke-on-Trent mainline railway station. Pedestrian access is off the boundaries of the park – College Road, Avenue Road, Ridgway Road and The Parkway. The park can also be reached on the Caldon Canal, which runs through the park, and joins the Trent & Mersey Canal at Etruria Locks. Car parks are located off The Parkway and off Avenue Road.
Bus services:
- 23, 23A every 10 minutes.
- 25 every 10 minutes.
- 24, 24A every 30 minutes.
Accessible by Public Transport: Stoke-on-Trent station is 1 mile away.
The event will follow a 5K fully accessible route.
The Car park is open from 08:00am until dusk, however parking is limited at Hanley Park. Parking is £1.00 for up to 1 hour, £1.50 for up to 3 hours and £3.00 for up to 24 hours. Additional parking is available on a pay and display car park located at Stoke College, Cauldon Place, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DG.
No, we won’t provide food, however we will provide a water station and participants are welcome to bring their own food.
Yes, there are toilets located in a building next to the sensory park, there will be additional portable toilets.
We recommend that you wear suitable and comfortable shoes and clothing. The route is mostly off the path and cross country so suitable footwear is essential. We recommend wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from the paint, and you may wish to wear a bandana across your mouth to prevent you from swallowing too much of it.
Participants are encouraged to wear their Colour Runner T-shirts and as much white as possible so that the colour looks as bright as possible! Come in fancy dress – anything white – Wedding Dress, Tutu etc
We do not know what the weather will be like so please think ahead and bring waterproof clothing in case of rain, warm clothing if it is likely to be a cold day and sun cream if necessary.
There will be no changing facilities or a cloakroom on the day, so everything you bring with you must accompany you on the run or remain with a family/friend spectating. Take care not to leave valuables unattended on show in your vehicle. Caudwell Children are unable to store valuables and cannot take any responsibility for and loss or damage to belongings.
We will have a clean down area to dust off the majority of the paint after the run. Why not bring a plastic bag to cover your car seats for the journey home.
No, you can run, walk, skip, crawl or dance the distance – super fitness not required. The idea is to have fun and adventure while raising vital funds for disabled children and being drenched in beautiful colour. Please note that the 5km route is not flat and does involve a few hills.
Volunteers at colour stations spread throughout the course will throw coloured powder over you as you pass (aiming in the air or at your body not your face). You can use your own purple paint bag at the beginning in the designated throwing zone for spectators and participants.
Yes, the powder paint is non-toxic and safe to use. HoliColour Paint powder is provided in EU-certified colours, with corn flour as the primary ingredient. Paint colourings are E-number / food additives commonly used in the food industry across the EU and the USA. To enhance safety, specific minerals are incorporated that make Holi Colours non-flammable and non-combustible.
We would also advise participants to wear sunglasses and bandana around the mouth/nose to prevent powder from going into your mouth or eyes.
Don’t worry – it will do no harm. If it goes in your eyes a simple rinse with water will take care of it. If you accidentally swallow some it will taste like coloured dirt – not nice but not harmful as it is natural cornstarch with food grade colours. The best way to avoid getting it in your eye is to wear sunglasses and a bandana/ dust mask over your mouth.
The easiest way is to get it off while it is still fresh and dry – shake, wriggle, jump up and down. Then use a soft brush. After that soap and water with a little rinse and repeat action. There will be a designated area on the day for you to brush off most of the paint. Please note that changing rooms are not available. If you are not changing, bring something to sit on in the car/bus/train – a towel, dustbin bag etc
However, it’s not unusual for some pigment to linger in the creases of the skin or beneath the nails. It’s important to note that some colouring may leave a slight sheen behind. Blonde hair tends to be more affected, and hair that has been previously dyed or bleached can absorb colour more readily.
There are clean up squads at each colour station ensuring the paint powder is cleaned away. Most of the powder will be taken away. However, as the powder is biodegradable the rest will be rinsed away with water.
The run/walk will still go ahead in rain and poor weather conditions. However, if extreme weather or other reasons beyond our control force us to cancel, we will endeavour to update the website, notify you by email and provide updates via the Caudwell Children social media pages.
Please check before you leave for the event.
You can get in touch with our Challenges Team via challenges@caudwellchildren.com or by calling 01782433750
Our Sponsors


Taking on challenges, changing lives
My passion for running started when I ran a park run at the age of 12. Since then, I’ve tackled local events from 5k to 16 mile runs, I enjoy challenging myself and meeting new people. As an autistic runner, running has helped me to manage my anxiety, stress and navigate the world.

Joshua
Why support Caudwell Children?
By taking on a challenge for Caudwell Children, you’ll not only be achieving something incredible for yourself but also helping raise vital funds to support disabled and autistic children.
Your efforts ensure we can continue providing life-changing services that empower these children to reach their full potential.
Every step you take makes a real difference, giving them the opportunity for a brighter, more independent future.
What impact could you make?
- Every £1 you donate helps us deliver at least £2 worth of practical and emotional support to children and families in need, ensuring your contribution goes twice as far.
- In 2023, Caudwell Children provided 17,181 donations and services to families across 2,512 UK postcodes.
- Your support allows us to provide critical resources like specialist equipment, therapy, and family support, transforming lives and offering children a brighter future.

We're here to help!
Not found what you’re looking for? Discover more about our challenge events. If you need help or have a different challenge in mind, reach out to us! Call 01782 433 750 or email challenges@caudwellchildren.com


Fundraising Resources
