Dewey Goes Pink event canceled

Less than two months before its 10th anniversary, Dewey Goes Pink has been canceled.

Event organizers Steve “Monty” Montgomery of The Starboard Restaurant and Adam Howard of the Rehoboth Body Shop announced Aug. 10 that the annual event supporting the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition would not be held, citing limits on public gatherings due to COVID-19.

Thousands of people flock annually to Dewey Beach the first Saturday in October for the event, which typically includes a 5K, silent auction and entertainment. In nine years, organizers have donated $650,000 to DBCC.

While the event is canceled, the fundraising continues. 

“For this one year, we will do what we can to help raise funds for the DBCC,” Montgomery and Howard said in a statement. “It’s not an easy time to expect folks to be as generous as they have usually been with this event, but we’ve chosen a T-shirt design which we will mail out to those who register, keeping the tradition of our great shirts for this year’s event.”

Montgomery and Howard stated that teams can still sign up, and the Starboard Cup and Dewey Cup trophies will be awarded for biggest team and highest team-raised amounts. Trophies will be awarded after Sept. 30, and will be presented at The Starboard or shipped to the winners.

As an incentive, those who register in 2020 will be able to register a month earlier than everyone else for the 2021 event.

“This is the best option because we couldn't find a way to celebrate our 10th anniversary with a limit of 250 people,” Montgomery stated. “Last year alone we had 3,500 participants. We'll work hard next year to make the 10th the biggest and best ever!”

Registration is now open and will close Wednesday, Sept. 30. T-shirts will be mailed to registrants and are $30; order at raceroster.com.