Buffs4Life Family Fun Run Renamed To Honor Kyle MacIntosh
BOULDER - The Third Annual Buffs4Life Fun Run has been renamed the Buffs4Life Kyle MacIntosh Memorial Fun Run to honor former University of Colorado track and field student-athlete Kyle MacIntosh.
The event will take place on Sunday, June 21 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colo. In honor of it being Father's Day, Bill MacIntosh, Kyle's father, will be the honorary race starter.
MacIntosh was an inspiration to many as he fought his cancer bravely until he passed away on Jan. 29, 2015 at the age of 23. He was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in December 2013 and suffered a brain aneurism the day after Christmas in 2014. The combination of MacIntosh's love for running and love for CU make the event the ideal venue to remember his legacy and strength.
"Kyle MacIntosh was an inspiration for all that knew him and for those that knew of his story," CU Athletic Director Rick George said. "He was courageous, he was a fighter and he lived life to its fullest. He is no longer with us but his spirit continues to inspire us. We are honoring that spirit and Kyle's life by naming our Buffs4life fun run after Kyle with the proceeds going to his family!"
"Thank you Buffs4Life! Words can't express how grateful the MacIntosh family is to Buffs4Life," Kendra Daniel, Kyle MacIntosh's sister, said. "The love, support and assistance given to us was such a comfort in our time of sorrow and need. The Buffs4Life were shoulder to shoulder with our family fight, fight, fighting Kyle's battle with cancer. We are proud to be involved with the Buffs4Life organization."
The Fun Run is extremely family friendly with two options. There is a 5k loop, which has a moderate degree of difficulty with one hill, and a 3k loop that has an easy degree of difficulty. Participants can run or walk, the name of the game is to have fun.
MacIntosh documented his battle with videos that he placed online. One particular clip starting out with him saying, "Today, I am going to show you how you beat cancer." That same video ended with MacIntosh saying, "You can wake up and mope and cry that you have to fight cancer or be grateful you have a fighting chance. That's how I live my life every day, you have to - Attitude is Everything." During his treatments, he still regularly worked out on the track, refusing to give in to the deadly disease.
This year's inaugural "Attitude is Everything" award will be the MacIntosh family. The award will be given each year to a deserving recipient who embodies passion towards life and the Buff community.
This year's Fun Run is the kick-off event of the 10th anniversary weekend of the Buffs4Life Foundation. Traditionally a golfing weekend, the introduction of the Family Fun Run in 2013 has enabled the foundation to be more accessible to a broader audience and be more interactive with the entire Buff community.
Registration is open online, although there will be limited race day registrations. Registration starts at $25 for in individual and goes to $90 for a family or a team of up to 5. Registration fees include race swag, including the official "Buffs Helping Buffs" shirt. There will also be games, prizes, raffles and refreshments available at the start/finish line.
ABOUT KYLE MACINTOSH
The Littleton, Colo. native was a four-time letterwinner for the Buffs. MacIntosh had a great 2012 season, scoring in a pair of events for CU at the inaugural Pac-12 Track & Field Championship. He advanced to the finals in the 400-meter hurdles after placing seventh in 52.60. MacIntosh picked up a sixth-place finish in the finals, crossing in 52.38. the 4x400-meter relay placed fourth in 3:09.64 He also ran both at the NCAA West Prelims, placing 37th individually in the 400-hurdles (53.20); the relay took 18th overall (3:10.95).
At Littleton High School, MacIntosh recorded the school record in the 300-meter hurdles (37.58). He won the 2009 state championship in the event with LHS claiming the 5A team championship. During the 2009 indoor season, MacIntosh recorded three top-10 U.S. marks in the 60 hurdles, the 200 and 400. He was an All-State honoree as a junior and senior and was a member of the All-State Academic team and Honor Roll at Littleton.
He was born on July 10, 1991 in Denver. He is survived by his parents, Bill and Nancy MacIntosh, his sister, Kendra Daniel, a brother-in-law, Roger Daniel, two nephews and a niece. He was pursuing a second degree in sociology at CU after receiving a bachelor's degree in communication in December of 2013.
MacIntosh's complete CU bio is available at CUBuffs.com.
ABOUT BUFFS4LIFE
In 2006, a group of former Buffs, who were an integral part of the turnaround in CU's football fortunes in the mid 1980's, became aware that one of their teammates, Anthony Weatherspoon (Spoon), had been diagnosed with leukemia. His prognosis was bleak and the gravity of the illness hit his family hard in many aspects, including financially. As the burden of medical costs overwhelmed his family, his friends and teammates wanted to help.
The idea of establishing an organization predicated on Buffs helping Buffs in need was born. Spoon's reputation as being a hardnosed and powerful fullback is synonymous with CU's return to greatness, but his influence off the field is his greatest legacy. Even though Spoon lost his battle to leukemia later that year, his spirit lives on in the CU Football family. The Buffs4Life Foundation is ready to help those who have worn the Black in Gold in times of need.
Buffs4Life means just that. You are a Buff 4 Life and not just for the four years you wore the uniform. It is a great honor for all our board members and for those who participate in our cause to be a part of something that brings our community, the University of Colorado, and the Buff family closer together.
More information can be found at Buffs4Life.org.