Second annual color waddle raises awareness

ZANESVILLE, OH – Two local non-profit organizations hosted its second annual Color Waddle fundraiser at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds today with some 1980’s flair. Drug-Free Muskingum and Muskingum Suicide Prevention Coalition have a mission to provide education, prevention and awareness to the community and today accomplished that while raising money.

“So, we do this to bring some awareness, some education to the community. To bring the community together. We have 17 blasting stations and each one of them work in the area of mental health and substance abuse disorder so our waddlers can see those agencies out here contributing to the community, ” said Monica Batteiger, the co-founder of Drug-Free Muskingum.

Throughout the 1980’s themed Color Waddle, each of these blasting stations covered those who pass in colorful powder turning their white clothing into a colorful piece of art. According to Batteiger, nearly 130 attended today’s event, with a colorful new look to show for it. This is their second year with the event and plans for next year are already in the works.

“We’re going to try and do a new theme every year. Continue the excitement, bigger and better every year. We do plan to come back to the fairgrounds. We like the venue a lot of the area and space being bigger so, and this seems to be like a nice central location,” Batteiger said.

Anyone interested in volunteering can reach out to Batteiger at Drug-Free Muskingum or Jamie McGrew Muskingum County Suicide Prevention Coalition.