TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) — Charities are always looking for new ways to energize donors.

Now, as Mike Schuh reports, a colorful twist on an old idea is looking good for the Cool Kids Campaign.

Put 12,000 people in white shirts, promise them a good time and set them free.

Oh yeah…douse them with colored corn starch again, and again and again.

Do this and you have the country’s largest 5K series, the Color Run.  And, for the first time on May 11, it’s coming to the stadium area in downtown Baltimore.

It will benefit the Cool Kids Campaign, a charity that helps kids with cancer survive and thrive.

“The Color Run. They call it the happiest 5K on the planet,” said Sharon Perfetti, Cool Kids Campaign.

The races are so popular they sell out within minutes of registration opening.  In fact, the registration for the Baltimore race opened on Friday and…

“They sold out one race in about two days.  They opened up a 2 p.m. race and are well on their way to selling that out,” said Perfetti.

The Cool Kids Campaign will supply 400 volunteers to staff the two Baltimore races. At color stations, survivors, caregivers, doctors and sponsors will go wild.

“So unlike most runs,where the people on the sidelines are cheering on the runners, this is the runners cheering for the people on the sidelines. That’s what we hope because it’s all about these kids, their parents, caregivers, our sponsors, who support us and allow us to do this for the kids, and we want the runners to know that,” said Perfetti.

The cost is $45.  Cool Kids could raise $15,000 to $30,000. Click here for more information.