The Comox Valley Running Club (CVRR) was founded on May 7, 1980. Dick Merrick was first club president. He was succeeded by Bent Harder, who served until 1989. Early leaders were Gary Holt, Sally Kunz, Alex Stuart, and John Crouch.
The CVRR’s first organized running event was the Cumberland Empire Days 3 Miler on May 18, 1981. In May 1985, Leo Vogel of the CVRR organized a relay run to Victoria to hand over a donation cheque to Steve Fonyo. A team of ten runners moved a baton with over $6,000 from Courtenay to Victoria in just over 16 hours. This event inspired John Crouch and others to establish the Island Relay as an annual event.
In 1992, CVRR members Al Munday and John Ingram were instrumental in working with the local Rotary Club to establish the first 24 Hour Relay to benefit St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox. Over the next four years, the event raised over $140,000. In 1998, the CVRR made a charitable donation of $2.00 per entrant from the Comox Valley 1/2 Marathon. The annual Jingle Bell Run contributes to the local food bank.