Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Drew Aufderheide is joined by friends and family as they throw color into the wind to start the annual 5K Colorfest.

NEW ULM — Harman Park was a colorful place to be Saturday with the seventh annual Drew’s Crew 5K Colorfest.

The annual 5K is held each year as a benefit for Drew Aufderheide who was diagnosed with an incurable form of leukemia seven years ago.

Aufderheide said it was a good day for a run. It was not too warm and there was a breeze which helps the color fly better.

The Colorfest run is not the typical 5K. At stations throughout the route, runners are hit with colorful powder chalk to brighten up the experience.

Aufderheide said this year’s run was special for him. For the last two years, he was forced to social distance from the rest of the country, but his work as gym manager and personal trainer did not allow for social distancing options. The leukemia also compromised his immune system, meaning it was especially important for him to social distance. As a result, he could not work and has not seen many friends or family in over a year. This 5K was a chance to reunite with people again.

“I am so excited to see everyone,” Aufderheide said. “I am excited to the n-th degree.”

Aufderheide was also pleased to announce his cancer levels are good. They have dropped to undetectable levels. He said this does not mean his cancer is gone because this type never goes away. He will continue to take the necessary medication to treat his condition. The money raised from the 5K will offset some of the cost of his medication.

This year, the 5K had well over 120 registered runners. It was a big change from 2020 when the pandemic forced it to be a virtual run. This year everything was back in person and the runners were hit loads of chalk again.

Drew’s father, Bill Aufderheide, said the event represents a great community and a great circle of friends coming together. Some numerous volunteers and businesses donated time and money to make the event possible. All came to help Drew, but Bill said there were also here because it was fun.

Elliot Hoffman finished the 5K first with a time of roughly 17 minutes, but no official time was taken. This 5K was not about how much time it took to run, but the fun you had doing it.