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New Orleans Red Dress Run

Every year, the streets of the French Quarter are filled by a sea of people clad in red dresses as a result of the Red Dress Run. This race, which is an annual fundraiser for breast cancer and other charities takes place in the French Quarter and downtown area and is open to both men and women. The race is usually between 3 and 4 miles long, and participants are all strongly encouraged to wear red dresses "or less." Men and women eagerly comply with the suggested dress code, as the main point of the event is to dress up in crazy outfits, have a good time, and raise money for charity. At the event, there is an abundance of both food and alcohol, and participants indulge heavily in both. The race aspect of the event is thus taken very light-heartedly, and it is mostly just for fun. Participants usually start assembling, registering, and drinking around 9:00 am on the morning of the event, and some start drinking even earlier in preparation. Anyone is allowed to participate who is "over 21, had a good sense of humor, and realizes that August in New Orleans is HOT!" On the day of the race, registered participants receive free beer and food, and get to enjoy live music and giveaways. In 2010, 7,000 people participated in the Red Dress Run, and the event raised more than 200,000 for 50 local charities.

The Hash House Harriers

The run is sponsored by the New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3 in its abbreviated form), a chapter within international Hash House Harriers, which is a non-competitive running club who describe themselves as a "drinking club with a running problem." The NOH3 is dedicated to celebrating New Orleanian culture and raising money for charitable causes while also having fun and partying at the same time. Open to any excuse to get together and have a good time, they try to run every weekend of every month. Members enjoy dressing up in eccentric outfits and costumes, singing and dancing throughout the streets of New Orleans, while also consuming alcoholic beverages. Any event organized by a Hash House Harrier group is called a hash or a hash run, and participants are called hashers or hares and hounds.

History

The Hash House Harriers, founded in 1938, function as the world's largest running club, and they began the tradition of the Red Dress run in 1987 when a woman in a red dress and heels dared to stand up to them. This young woman, by the name of Donna Rhineheart, flew to southern California to visit an old friend from highschool. Upon landing, her friend took her to Long Beach, where she was introduced to a group of Hash House Harriers. One member of the group, taking note of her gender and attire, suggested that she "just wait in the truck" until her friend and the rest of the group returned from their run. Instead of complying, Donna Rhineheart did just the opposite and took off running in her dress and heels. The next year, on August 12, 1988, the San Diego Hash House Harriers sent Rhineheart, "The Lady in Red," a plane ticket to attend the first ever Red Dress Run in order to commemorate the event. Hundreds of male and female hashers decked themselves in red dresses and attended the event, which was widely publicized by California newspapers and news stations. On this day, Rhineheart addressed the crowd and suggested that the Hash House Harriers host the Red Dress Run annually as a way to raise money for local charities.