Disney Donates Medals to CommUNITY Rainbow Run
Today, runners in Orlando’s CommUNITY Rainbow Run will receive some pretty special medals.
The Orlando Sentinel‘s Gabrielle Ruson Reported on Friday, June 7:
Runners covet the Disney medals, bling that’s shaped like the Millennium Falcon or Dopey as a reward for tearing all the muscle fibers in their legs for the challenge.
On Saturday, some runners will receive Disney medals although they might not know it. The medals aren’t emblazoned with a Disney logo or the company’s name.
It’s a gesture of goodwill as Disney quietly designed the medals that will be awarded to more than 2,700 registered participants for the Third Annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run to honors the victims of the Pulse nightclub shootings. Forty-nine people were killed in the June 12, 2016, attack.
Families, survivors, first responders, & civic & spiritual leaders gathered to dedicate the opening of the #Pulse interim memorial, which will provide a place for commemoration & reflection. The public can visit today starting at 3 pm. #WeWillNotLetHateWin https://t.co/F9XKBKL5xA pic.twitter.com/xmXCuor7Wh
— onePULSE Foundation (@onePULSEorg) May 8, 2018
OnePulse Collaborated With Yellow Shoes
The Sentinel explained that the OnePulse Foundation approached Disney; the first time The Walt Disney Company designed a non-runDisney medal:
“We did it because we wanted to give back,” said Steve Carsella, who created the concept. The medal features bright primary colors that symbolize a sunrise for a new day and on the back a pair of angel wings with 49 delicate tips to represent those lives lost.
“We will not let hate win,” the medal says.
Disney-Designed Medals
“This medal is about a celebration,” Carsella said. “It’s not meant to be somber.
“It’s meant to be uplifting. I want the medals to reflect that.”
The sentiment was appreciated by the runners, who proudly showed off the awards, designed by Yellow Shoes – Disney’s in-house agency.
Beautiful medal from Disney to service as a tribute to the 49 lives that were lost. #OrlandoStrong #OnePulse #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/8EpmXSJVBh
— Doug McDonald (@dougmcd) June 8, 2019
Completed the 3rd Annual #CommUNITYRainbowRun . Biggest crowd yet. @onePULSEorg is always taking donations to build a permanent memorial. Glad to see such support for the LGBTQ+ community. #Pride pic.twitter.com/pv3dKWWvhK
— No More Mr Nice Gay (@NoMoreMrNiceGa1) June 8, 2019
It was a humid day, but this race was one of my favorites. So much love here! ❤️ So many emotions. Thanks to @onePULSEorg for putting on an amazing event! #OrlandoStrong #LoveAlwaysWins #CommUNITYRainbowRun #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/5V3TJC1th8
— LoCoRunner (@Lorriec13) June 8, 2019