By The Denver Post
The popular Race for the Cure will shut down several major downtown Denver streets this morning from 5 to 10:30 a.m. as at least 60,000 runners, joggers and walkers turn out to raise money to fight breast cancer.
“It will be a beautiful day,” said Dana Brandorff, the event’s spokeswoman, adding that the spectacle created by so many participants continues to amaze even veteran organizers. “It’s just a phenomenal sight.”
Auraria Parkway will be closed from Colfax Avenue to 14th Street; Speer Boulevard from Larimer Street to Federal Boulevard; 29th Avenue from Zuni Street to Hazel Court; Federal from 32nd Avenue to 14th Avenue; Colfax from Irving Street to Kalamath Street; and 15th Street from Delgany Street to Market Street.
The closures include all ramps at Colfax and Federal, Colfax and Auraria, Interstate 25 and Colfax and Interstate 25 and Speer.
As of Saturday morning, about 58,000 people had registered for the various race events. Brandorff said that with registration still ongoing Saturday, she expected the turnout to approach last year’s record of 63,458.
The event is run in most major cities throughout the year, and it has become an international powerhouse as a private fundraiser for the fight against breast cancer and for cancer research.
Denver’s race is the largest in the country, Brandorff said. It has grown from only 3,500 participants in 1993. Officials said $2 million had been pledged by Saturday morning, and more was expected by the end of the race.
In 2003, the race raised $2.3 million. Last year, it brought in $2.1 million.
