Cancer League of Colorado Race 4 Research

The 30th Annual Cancer League of Colorado Race 4 Research 5K Run/Walk is excited to be back to the full event you love Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Washington Park, Denver!

Run In-Person

The race will kick off at 9am (end approximately 11am) on Sunday, August 16th. There will only be day-of-race in-person registration at Washington Park, but we prefer you register online in advance.  Come early to pick up race bibs and t-shirts the morning of the race at the Registration desk. Children under the age of 12 are only $20.00, a discount will be added on checkout. 

Help Us Fundraise

The Race 4 Research raises money for Cancer League of Colorado, a non-profit charitable organization that is run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff or offices. The money raised goes directly to support cancer research and clinical trials performed at the University of Colorado Cancer Center or to cancer patient support organizations in Colorado. When registering, set up your fundraising page or create or join a fundraising team and send out emails or social media posts to request donations. There is no fundraising minimum to participate in the Race 4 Research, but we rely on our participants' voluntary fundraising efforts to help us meet our donation goal of $100,000 for the race.

Miracle Mile

Honor someone’s battle with cancer with a Miracle Mile Walk Poster. As an individual or team, raise a minimum of $1,000 and you will receive 1 complimentary Miracle Mile Poster to honor someone's battle with cancer. The Miracle Mile is a line of inspirational posters placed along the race route that honor loved ones touched by cancer. The Miracle Mile shows exactly who Cancer League of Colorado has been fighting for more than 50 years. Once a participant has reached the minimum amount required, a Race 4 Research volunteer will reach out and gather information from you to create or renew your poster. The Miracle Mile will also be featured at other Cancer League fundraising events this year, including Over the Edge, the rappelling event which will be held in downtown Denver. Race posters will need to be ordered and finalized no later than August 8th.

In Memory of Michele Plachy-Rubin

The Race 4 Research was first organized and run in 1997 by the friends and family of Michele Plachy-Rubin, a young mother and kindergarten teacher who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1996. Michele walked the first race with her 1-year-old son but tragically lost her battle with cancer in 1998. Cancer League of Colorado has continued the race in her memory. This all-volunteer charity has raised and awarded over $26 million for cancer research and cancer-related services in Colorado since 1969.