Ever been out on a nice almost fall morning enjoying the scenery, pounding the pavement to your favorite tunes?

Ever been out taking a nice, calm jog through Vicksburg’s amazingly beautiful downtown?

Have you ever done this while dozens of people take turns throwing colored powder on you?

If you answered “no” to the last question, you get your chance to so Saturday as Vicksburg’s downtown will not only be covered by hundreds of runners but also very likely covered in color.

Vicksburg’s inaugural 5K True Color run will kickoff early Saturday, and in doing so will set a very fast pace for the United Way of West Central Mississippi’s annual fundraising campaign.

The run, which this year is taking the place of a campaign kickoff event, does a few things the United Way does extremely well; bring the community together and find ways to help the community. All of this is accomplished in one, single event.

With more than $15,000 already raised — and more coming in — the event is an unmitigated success before the first step is taken and the first color packet thrown.

Already companies in the area have kicked off their United Way campaigns and more and more people are becoming aware of what the United Way has meant and does mean to the Vicksburg and Warren County community.

This year, the United Way of West Central Mississippi is going after a lofty goal of $1.235 million; all of which goes to support programs in this area, programs that help every demographic, every group in one way or another.

Saturday’s run through Vicksburg will stretch for miles, the money raised by this event and the many campaigns — and the impact those dollars have — will go much farther thanks to the dedication of the United Way staff, the staff of the partner agencies, the agency volunteers and the members of the community who dedicate their services, their lives to helping others.

Congratulations to the organizers of the True Color Run. This event — before it event begins — is a success to be proud of and one Vicksburg should be proud to host.