By Buffalo Exchange NOLA

The Red Dress Run is an event that happens around the globe, and was founded by the world’s largest running club, Hash House Harriers. The Red Dress Run started purely by accident in Long Beach during 1987 when a woman took part in a yearly race sporting heels and a red dress. The Red Dress Run spread to San Diego in 1988, and since has grown in popularity with male and female runners.

The Hash House Harriers sponsor this yearly event, usually on the second Saturday in August to raise money for a multitude of local and national charities. Over the years millions of dollars have been raised by the Hash House Harriers. Since 2010, The New Orleans chapter raised over $200,000 each year. This year, there are 100 charities to choose from that benefit local groups.

The 20th annual New Orleans Red Dress Run takes place on August 9, 2014 at Louis Armstrong Park. The run proceeds through the French Quarter. There are events throughout the downtown area with most centered around Louis Armstrong Park.

The New Orleans Buffalo Exchange has kept well stocked with red dresses since 2008. We have urged other Buffalo Exchange stores to assist us with the process of generating enough red dresses for our runners. Between the 2013–2014 run, we collected more than 850 red dresses specifically for this event.