The Eldorado Run for the Cure celebrates 40 years of purpose
23 Jun 2019
A cancer diagnosis was the impetus for Colorado’s longest-operating charity footrace.
By Vicki Allsopp On a crisp November afternoon in 1980, a group of people—578 to be exact—decked out in dolphin shorts and other athletic garb, stretched muscles, drank water, and murmured quietly in anticipation. Their backdrop: the golden cliffs and awe-inspiring beauty of Eldorado Canyon State Park. Their playlist: the gurgling waters of South Boulder Creek and sweet whispers of Eldorado Springs’ famous artesian waters. When Boulder resident Stan Havlick (the organizer of the first run) saw the first Eldorado Run for the Cure (ERC) set into motion (it was called the University of Colorado Cancer Research Run back then), little did he realize that similar scenes would repeat 40 times over. We caught up with Havlick to discuss the history of the event. Boulder Magazine: Drawing on personal experience and business acumen, you were instrumental in starting something that has, amazingly, lasted four decades. How did it all begin? Stan Havlick: In 1980, I gained firsthand knowledge of what patients go through after a cancer diagnosis. My wife at the time was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. It was both eye-opening and impelling—I realized that physicians and researchers could always use additional resources. And I was pretty motivated to do something to help. Our attending oncologist was Dr. William “Bill” Robinson, who happened to live in Eldorado Springs at the time. Bill introduced me to longtime resident Bill Fowler. One thing led to another, and after many discussions and a lot of brainstorming, we started working on a charity run to raise funds for cancer research. We talked to the police about blocking off the roads, and that was the birth of the cancer run. It was a collaborative effort.
