Eighth Annual Cinco/Cinco 5k Run at Colorado State University to Benefit Gil Gutierrez Scholarship Fund

This year’s Cinco de Mayo activities in Fort Collins will kick off with the eighth annual Cinco/Cinco 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. May 5 on the Colorado State Oval.

The event honors Gil Gutierrez, Colorado State’s ombudsman from 1990-93 and an accomplished runner, who was hit by a drunk driver while running in August 1993. He died a few days later at Poudre Valley Hospital.

Runners, walkers and volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in the community event. The cost for pre-registration, including a race T-shirt, is $16 for the general public and $14 for students and senior citizens. Late registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. the day of the race and will be $3 more. Groups of four or more may register and get the fifth person free.

Race entry forms are available at Colorado State’s Student Recreation Center, main office; GLBT Student Services in the Lory Student Center on campus; Foot of the Rockies, 1205 W. Elizabeth St. or 150 E. Harmony Road; and Runner’s Roost, 902 W. Drake Road, Suite #7. Participants also can register online at www.Active.com.

A free children’s Fun Run will be held after participants have completed the 5K race. Children eight and under are invited to race around the Oval in support of the memorial scholarship.

Door prizes, giveaways and announcements will be presented following the competition. Division winners will be announced during the city’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Old Town. "This event honors the loss of a dear friend," said Barb Musslewhite, coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Student Retention. "I would much rather be scheduling coffee with Gil than scheduling this event to honor his memory." Gutierrez was dedicated to improving access and support to students interested in higher education.

The run is sponsored by The Friends of Gil Gutierrez organizing committee and the Colorado State University Recreational Sports Department.

All proceeds from the event are donated to the Gil Gutierrez Memorial Scholarship Fund, which awards two scholarships of at least $555.55 to Colorado State University students and also encourages sober driving. The scholarship amount was originally selected to represent five fives, or "cinco cincos."

For more information, to make a donation to the Cinco/Cinco 5K Run/Walk or to nominate a student for the memorial scholarship, call Musslewhite at (970) 491-0421. Those interested in serving as race volunteers may call Andrea Zelinko at (970) 491-1960. For general information concerning Cinco de Mayo festivities, call Rich Salas at (970) 491-5722.