Chester County’s Color 5K Raises $110,000 for COPE Program to Help Fig

WEST CHESTER, PA — The 2023 Chester County Color 5K, raised $110,000 for the County’s COPE – Community Outreach Prevention and Education – program to help in the fight against opioid and heroin addiction.

Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline recently presented a check to Kate Kinsley, Deputy Director of the County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services.

COPE provides 24/7 support to overdose survivors and their families at hospital emergency rooms throughout the county. Trained peer specialists make a personal connection to survivors in the emergency room and encourage them to enter treatment immediately following discharge from the hospital. The program also supplies overdose prevention and outreach information to first responders, hospital staff, and families of overdose survivors.

Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline, whose efforts to address the opioid and heroin epidemic led to the introduction of the Color 5K in 2016.

“The Color 5K is one of the proudest accomplishments during my years as commissioner because the money raised has made a real difference in the lives of so many in our community,” said Kichline.

“There’s a banner at every Color 5K race that people sign in memory or support of loved ones or friends, and it’s quite moving to read all the messages because you realize the pervasiveness of substance use disorders,” said Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz.

If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder, help is available. Call the Drug & Alcohol Information and Referral at 1-866-286-3767 or Get Help Now, a 24/7 hotline, at 1-800-662-4357.

More information about Chester County’s Overdose Prevention Task Force is available here.