COLORADO SPRINGS – It’s been a signature event in Colorado Springs, but the Waldo Waldo 5K run has come to an end. Ever since the Waldo Canyon Fire, people have dressed up as Waldo from the popular Where’s Waldo book series to help raise money for canyon restoration.
Costume maker Elope held the license from Dreamworks and Classic Media to produce all of the Waldo costumes worn by the runners. However, the licenses recently changed meaning Saturday’s race would be the final run.
Race creator Chelise Foster said the event has raised more than $200,000 for the Rocky Mountain Field Institute which is the local group doing the forest restoration. They were recently awarded a grant from National Parks Service to continue their work.
Meanwhile, Foster told us she’s working on two new events.
“In 2019, we’ve already announced in our goodie bags this year, it’s going to be a really fun, silly stick horse 5k where you get a stick horse when you register,” Foster said. “And then 2020 is going to be a really fun event in Denver.”
More than 1,000 people each year have signed up for the race. This year’s participants came from 28 different states.
