Running in Red (Dress) for a Charitable Cause

July 12, 2016

The Annual Red Dress Charity Run held in Zürich on 09 July is hosted by the Hash House Harriers, the world’s largest running club founded in 1938, with over 70,000 active members worldwide. In 2016, Rising Tide Foundation Group and its staff are proud to support this goodwill event, raising CHF 3,000 for the Giggle Clowns, Theodora Children’s Charity, which lightens up hospital stays for children with visits from clowns. Hats off and kudos to our very own Rising Tide Red Dress Running Team – Björn, Eduardo, Georgina and Rayna, who not only looked smashing in their red dresses but also impressed all with their good spirits. 

Origins

This Red Dress Run event originated in 1987 when a young lady visiting a friend from her high school years, emerged from an airplane in Southern California wearing a red dress. Shortly thereafter, she found herself transported to Long Beach, where she was introduced to a zany running group called the “Hash House Harriers.” One member, noting her gender and attire, urged her to “just wait in the truck” until her host returned. With that goading, she ran into history sporting her red dress and heels.

The following year (1988), to commemorate the event, the San Diego Hash House Harriers sent “The Lady in Red” an airline ticket to attend the inaugural Red Dress Run. Hundreds of male and female hashers from all walks of life adorned themselves in red dresses for a spectacle widely covered by California newspapers and TV news. Addressing the crowd, The Lady in Red suggested that Hash House Harriers hold the Red Dress Run annually as an occasion to raise funds for local charities. A tradition born long before organizations turned to running events as a way to raise money, and long before anyone ran in a dress of any color, the Red Dress Run is today, an iconic and integral part of the Hash House Harriers’ heritage. 

For more information about the Red Dress Run event, visit www.zh3.ch.