The Comox Valley Road Runners (CVRR) was founded 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 club’s first organized running event was the Cumberland Empire Days 3 Miler on May 18, 1981. In May of 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 stimulated John Crouch and others to establish the Island Relay as an annual event.
In 1992, club 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 Jingle Bell Run contributes to the local food bank.