ENCINITAS — The Cardiff Kook Run, the popular race inspired by the eponymous Cardiff statue and the focus of a recent lawsuit, raised more than $2,000 for several charities, race organizers recently said.
Race organizers said that more than 2,400 runners participated in the 5K/10K race, and $1,000 of the proceeds was given to the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego, which was the race’s partner. Another $270 was raised for the organization via online donations.
The race organizers are also awarding a $250 grant to Cardiff Elementary for their participation in the event and a $500 grant to Boy Scouts Troop #776 of St. John the Evangelist Church.
Officials said the race grew by 20 percent this year.
Recently, Cardiff 101 MainStreet Association sued the race organizers for $150,00 for using the likeness of the race’s namesake statue without the organization’s permission.
Cardiff 101 Mainstreet owns the copyright for the statue and it alleges that race organizer Steve Lebherz willingly ignored cease-and-desist demands from Cardiff 101 after Lebherz cut ties between the race and Cardiff 101 after nearly four years in late 2015.
The lawsuit is still pending.
