Drew Aufderheide (No. 1000), center, gets colorful with several hundred participants at the Drew’s Crew 5k Colorfest in 2017: The event benefits Aufderheide who was diagnosed with a rare form of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). The annual Colorfest run will be held Saturday, Sept. 9 at Harman Park.

NEW ULM — For the ninth year in a row, friends and family of Drew Aufderheide will come together to support him in the most colorful way possible.

The annual Drew’s Crew 5K Colorfest will be held in Harman Park starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 9.

The first Drew’s Crew 5K Colorfest was held in 2015. In March of that year, Drew Aufderheide was diagnosed with a rare illness, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It is a cancer caused by a chromosomal change. There is no cure for this type of cancer. The 5K Colorfest is held as a fundraising benefit to help Aufderheide cover the cost of his medication and other medical expenses.

Drew’s parents Bill and Valerie Aufderheide said the need is still there as the cost of treating his CML has not diminished. They estimate it costs between $24,000 and $25,000 a year to cover medical expenses. Without the 5K Colorfest fundraiser, Drew would not have been able to afford to treat his cancer.

“The need is very real,” Valerie Aufderheide said. Currently, Drew needs to take special chemo medication every day in pill form. Since his form of cancer is rare, the medication is not produced in bulk. A lab in Switzerland produces the medication and mails it to the United States directly to Drew. It is not handled by local pharmacies.

Insurance covers a portion of medical expenses. Sometimes there are programs to offset the difference not covered by insurance, but those programs are not always available.

Insurance is another ongoing struggle. Before he was diagnosed with CML, Drew Aufderheide worked at Anytime Fitness as a gym manager and personal trainer, but that is no longer possible. Drew has a compromised immune system. A fear of exposure to illness is constant for Drew. The COVID pandemic made the situation even worse.

On advice from his oncologist, Drew needed to change careers. He can no longer work closely with people. He has taken up a part-time job mapping lakes for Johnson Outdoors. The new job allows him to work outdoors. However, it is a job that does not provide insurance.

Drew is required to pay for his own insurance and with his pre-existing condition, he has a high deductible. Some insurance companies do not cover tests or appointments if not done on a specific schedule.

“The need is still there, insurance does not cover what it should,” Bill Aufderheide said.

For this reason, the Aufderheide family is grateful the community continues to support the Colorfest run. They hope to see a greater number of people register for the 5K. Since 2020, the number of participants has been relatively low compared to participation in the early years.

Bill Aufderheide said the COVID pandemic limited how many people could participate in 2020. That year the Colorfest run was held remotely, with runners recording their separate time at different locations to avoid a large gathering. In the years since runners have been slow to return, but the family hopes to turn things around this year.

As with past years, the 5K will begin at Harman Park and along the route, volunteers will throw coloring at runners. By the time race participants cross the finish line, they will be covered with every color of the rainbow.

Bill Aufderheide said the idea to make it a color run came from seeing a similar event in Sleepy Eye.

“It was something different and we wanted to try it,” Bill said. By adding color to the 5K it makes the event a celebration of life.

The event is also a chance for Drew to see family and friends. The community support he continues to receive means a great deal to Drew.

“If you can’t come for the run come for lunch and the auction,” Valerie Aufderheide said.

Bill said the auction will include a lot of outdoor equipment that would be great for sportsmen.

As with past years, Colorfest 5K will take place before Hermann Fest. The city festival happens later in the day after Drew’s Crew 5K ends and uses some of the same setup.

“The Hermann Fest and Drew’s Crew members combine to do the setup and the takedown,” Valerie Aufderheide said. “They work together.”

“It has been beneficial for both of us,” Bill said. “The Hermann Fest people have been very generous in sharing their facility. We are grateful for all they have done.”

The Colorfest 5K will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in Harman Park. In addition to the run, food will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Harman Park. A face painting booth was also added from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A silent and live auction will be held at 1 p.m.