Royal Run for Hope: A Tribute in Every Step 

October 2025
By Tanya Torres '19, '21 

UTEP alumna Martha Mireles Martinez ’05, ’08 found inspiration close to home when it came to continuing her education in college. She chose to stay in El Paso to support her parents, who had started their own business, while following in the footsteps of her high school teachers, whose experiences inspired her. Martha saw UTEP as both a cornerstone of her community and a natural steppingstone toward her future. 

“I think the thing that inspired me the most to attend UTEP is that it was part of my community,” she said. 

Teaching, Running and a Spark of Purpose 

Martha graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies and completed her master’s in education in 2008. After earning her degrees, Martha began teaching at Ascarate Elementary School, where one student’s battle with cancer and his mother’s tireless advocacy left a lasting impression on her. Around the same time, Martha and her twin sister, Cristina Mireles, picked up running as a new hobby and began participating in 5Ks together. Feeling inspired, the sisters came to the same conclusion: they wanted to create their own 5K. 

Their motivation ran deeper than fitness and medals. Martha’s own mother had battled cancer when she and her sister were in middle school. Knowing how tough it was for their mother to deal with as an adult, they could hardly fathom how heavy a burden it was for children facing the same fight. 

“We can only imagine how tough it was for these children, and we knew we wanted all the proceeds to go to children who were fighting cancer,” she said. 

The Royal Run for Hope was born not just as a race or a place to socialize, but as a movement where only a community like El Paso could spark change for the children fighting cancer. The 5K run and 1K walk became a space where families could gather for support, where children fighting cancer could be honored and celebrated, and where the Sun City community could rally around a shared purpose: hope, healing and action. 

A Powerful Turnout for a Powerful Cause 

This year, the 14th annual Royal Run for Hope brought together hundreds of El Pasoans in a powerful show of support for children battling cancer. Held on September 28, 2025, at Casa Buick, the event offered participants a chance to run a 5K or walk a 1-mile route, drawing runners, advocates, educators, and families from across the city. 

Electric Energy and Symbolic Colors 

The run saw its largest turnout yet, with 861 participants crossing the finish line and receiving commemorative medals. The energy was electric from start to finish, with attendees proudly dressed in purple and gold, the colors chosen to symbolize dignity, perseverance, and the preciousness of every child fighting cancer. Families, friends, volunteers, and supporters stood in unity as participants passed displays honoring children’s journeys, those still fighting, those who have survived, and those remembered with love.

A Community Effort with Deep Roots

Although organized by Martha, the run continues to grow thanks to the tireless efforts of her twin sister and co-founder Cristina Martinez, along with a dedicated committee. Together, they launched the event in 2011 to raise awareness and support for families facing pediatric cancer. All proceeds stay in El Paso and are donated directly to those families.

“Every year it is emotional,” Martha said. “This year’s run really moved me because I saw so many more participants wanting to be part of and make a difference in our community.”

Honoring Courage, Inspiring Hope

The memory walk and sash ceremony were especially powerful. Childhood cancer survivors were honored with sashes while families of angels stood beside them. 

“The one moment from the race that I can remember the most is when we were giving the childhood cancer survivors their sashes. Then to have family members of childhood cancer angels with us, it took my breath away,” Martha said. 

For Martha, the Royal Run for Hope is more than a race. It is a living tribute and a call to action. With every step taken and every story shared, the event reminds El Paso that no child fights alone and that hope is something we build together.