Family Fun Day fills park, helps recovery

Fallon Family Fun Day in honor of National Recovery Month was well attended Saturday with about 142 Color Blast 5K walk/run participants and many more enjoying the free entertainment in Venturacci Park.

New Frontier Treatment Center, Churchill Community Coalition and sponsors were supporting community members and their families suffering or recovering from substance abuse or other behavioral health issues, though anyone was welcome.

“It means a lot to me to help plan a family fun day like this,” said New Frontier’s Tiffany DeAloia, though her brain was working overtime with the planning and keeping her up at night. She said it was wonderful seeing clients and their sense of accomplishment as well as helping provide a great sober experience.

Tara Colt, who finished in-house rehabilitation Aug. 16, heard about the event from her counselor and brought her family. Colt said it was an awesome day, and her young daughter was enjoying the carnival in the park.

The 5K start kicked off the park’s bounce house, carnival games and face painting. There were also tables set up featuring youth groups, children’s books and healthy living resources including representatives from the Shoshone-Paiute tribe. Raffle prizes ranging from gift baskets to police-donated children’s bicycles were given out as well as 100 children’s goodie bags. There was a free barbecue and live music by Southbound Train.

The 5K course had sponsored color stations with features such as water gun color dispensers, paper flowers, balloon arches, bubbles, music and miniature trophies for children. There was also a color-splotched backdrop in the park for photos.

Rob and Kristin Carnahan, who worked the Banner Churchill Community Hospital blue color station, had a great time with their son, showering runners with blue dust.

“There are fantastic volunteers here,” said Corey Plumb, a former marathoner who fell out of his healthy lifestyle then recently lost 140 pounds. “I was very impressed.”

Plumb described how he once did a race in Big Sur, Calif. that was well done and one of his favorites — and this event compared to that. This was also his first official run since his weight loss.