As a soldier in the U.S. Army, Rick Ortenburger was stationed in Germany in 1969 at the height of the Vietnam War. “I was a personnel clerk and my buddy and I bought a Volkswagen bug for $200. One night, we decided to do something different and I wound up meeting Elfi.”

In February 1971, Rick and Elfi moved to the United States as a couple, settling in California.

“The Hughes program [the Hughes Aircraft Company, founded by Howard Hughes] had a contract with the government at the time,” Rick says. “If you were drafted, you were guaranteed a job when you came back. That was that. I worked for Hughes Aircraft for 37 years. I started by making crates and eventually became the manager of the Trident missile program.”

Elfi owned a gym until asked to be the running coach for the AIDS Project Los Angeles. She attended a training method course developed by Jeff Galloway, NCAA All-American and 1972 U.S. Olympic athlete. For four years, Elfi coached thousands of marathon runners using the Galloway run/walk method.

“We started with Walk the Talk, which was aimed at gathering money for AIDS research through walks and marathons,” Elfi says.

“A lifestyle change begins with a vision and a single step.” – Jeff Galloway, American Olympian & Author

In 2004, citing a desire to spend more time outdoors and avoid California’s high cost of living, the Ortenburgers moved to Salt Lake City.

“We actually met Jon Huntsman at an event and he spoke about Howard Hughes,” Rick says. “Hughes had started his own medical institute and donated profits to medical research, and Jon was doing the same. He was an incredible guy who donated his money to finding a cure for cancer. It touched our lives and we thought, what an awesome cause to support.”

“I had retired and was looking for something to do,” Elfi says. “I saw an article in the Draper paper about a woman fundraising for Huntsman Cancer Institute. It read, ‘If you’re interested in helping, contact Lori.’ I contacted Lori Kun [development officer for Huntsman Cancer Foundation] and convinced her to start a weekly training program.”

That was the beginning of Huntsman Heroes and Elfi’s volunteer efforts quickly started to pay off.

“Seeing the donations—people helping in any way they could—it was an inspiration. We raised $37,000 the first year and $350,000 the next. It’s amazing to see how many people are still with us almost 20 years later.”

Fundraising events for Huntsman Cancer Institute, then called Hometown Heroes and now called Huntsman Heroes, have expanded exponentially since the Ortenburgers started. They now include a virtual “choose your own adventure” option.

“We started with the Salt Lake Marathon and now we have events in Ogden and Park City. It’s not just for runners anymore. We have skiers, cyclists, walkers, and then it culminates with Huntsman SportsFest.”

All funds raised—100%— go to support the mission of Huntsman Cancer Institute. To date, Huntsman Heroes have raised $5.59 million for cancer research at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

“The research provides hope for the future,” she says.

“Most runners hope running will always be a part of their lives. I’ll be happy if running and I can grow old together.” – Haruki Murakami, Japanese Writer & Runner

Elfi started running full marathons at the age of 45. In 2008, that all changed.

“I was coaching some runners during a track workout and the world started spinning. I went to the hospital, and I thought it was a stroke or something. I was diagnosed with vertigo."

With vertigo making marathon running impossible, Elfi turned to climbing stairs to quell her fitness needs.

“I just like getting up and doing something for my body. I’ve changed from running to cycling. I’m making lemonade out of lemons. I like pushing myself.”

So, what about Rick? Does he share his wife’s passion?

“I started running in 1978 and I remember my first time. I went out on my 30th birthday because I was gaining weight. I didn’t have running shoes. People talk about a running high, and it’s true. You do gain more energy. I would wake up in the morning and beat the freeway rush to work. I would run at the gym before I went to work and that would carry me through the day. I found I was more positive, had more patience, and had more energy.”

Working with Huntsman Heroes allows them both to remain involved.

“When coaching, I try and keep them happy,” Elfi says. “I encourage people to do the best they can. I want to make them feel important, like anything is possible. We don’t push them out of their comfort zone. We don’t ask them to run harder or longer or up mountains. I practice what I preach. I want people to see that I am working hard. I want them to see me making the effort.”

“Fast runner? Slow runner? Doesn’t matter. We pay the same attention to everyone,” adds Rick. “I would take pictures and then give them back to the runners to show them that they’re doing it. It helps them feel more important.”

“Every time we race we defy what our body says we should do. Our body screams at us to stop, yet we keep going. We endure and conquer every pain, every doubt that we have. If we apply that same mentality to life, we can overcome any obstacle.” - Kellyn Taylor, American Long-Distance Runner

Over the last few years, being a Huntsman Hero has taken on a deeper meaning for the Ortenburgers.

In 2018, Rick was getting a haircut—a usual routine. But on that Monday, his longtime barber noticed something on Rick’s face. Within two hours, Rick was seeing a dermatologist. The doctor told him it appeared an age spot had been scraped, but they’d take a sample just to be certain there was nothing else going on. By Friday, Rick was told he had melanoma.

“I’ve been a positive person through it all,” Rick says. “Choosing Huntsman Cancer Institute for my treatment was a no-brainer. The positivity of everyone in Clinic 2C makes me more positive. There’s only one way to go—forward. I can’t wallow in self-pity. I keep busy with my projects. You have to live your life, do what you love.”

“I’m the scared one,” Elfi says. “I feel anxious and sad. We don’t have any kids. He’s all I have. The people of Clinic 2C care about me as much as Rick. I have bad days. I used to not want to do anything. If not for them, I would have lost it already.”

Rick had lesions on his skin and suspect nodules in his stomach, spleen, lung, brain, and spine. He was treated with immunotherapy, receiving four infusions every three weeks as part of a clinical trial.

“He’s become my coach,” Elfie says. “He’s teaching me how to deal with reality, move forward and find the positives. He makes sure I’m ok and I make sure he takes his medicine.”

The Ortenburgers have seen the deadly impact of cancer before. Elfi lost her dad and best friend to the disease before her sister also passed in 2021. Rick lost his mom to cancer as well.

“I keep a birthday card from my mom where she tells me ‘stay industrious,’” Rick says.

“Winning has nothing to do with racing. Most days don’t have races anyway. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up.” – Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon Winner

At the end of the day, the Ortenburgers believe in their work and the Huntsman Heroes.

“People say my dad did all these things for our town back in Germany,” Elfi says. “They say I’m just like him and that makes me proud. If I’m 10% of what he was, I’d be proud. I believe in this cause. I believe in giving back and I’m lucky I got to retire early and do that. I love coaching and helping people. These people are family. This gives me purpose.”

“I have a running buddy who lost their mother to adrenal cancer,” Rick says. “You have to think that with more research, they could have developed more successful treatments. Would she have been able to have more time with her family? We’re fundraising to allow people to live longer, and that’s why we keep doing it. Without the Huntsman Heroes, we are nothing. You see what Jon Huntsman did and you want to follow his lead. Everyone needs an inspiration.”

“That’s the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.” - Kara Goucher, U.S. Olympic Marathoner