
Runners will race through Downtown and the Jacksonville Beaches to finish breast cancer | The 18th annual DONNA Marathon Weekend, an official event of The DONNA Foundation and a signature event of the organization’s Survivorship, Education and Awareness Program, will turn up the pink in Downtown Jacksonville and the Beaches January 31 – February 2, 2025. The theme of this year’s race is Destination: Fearless, a celebration of love over fear, representing the idea that every step we take together, every mile we complete, is a step toward embracing a life of hope –– a life that is fearless.
The 26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer™ is the only marathon in the country dedicated to serving those living with breast cancer. Ranked number four in the country for best half marathons and honored as one of the top 25 flattest marathons, the annual DONNA Marathon Weekend races are beloved by runners worldwide.
Proceeds from DONNA Marathon Weekend provide hope, support and financial relief to those living with breast cancer, both local to Jacksonville and across the country. In fiscal year 2024, the Foundation served more than 1,103 patients and worked to resolve financial barriers related to housing, utilities, transportation and more through the DONNA CareLine. The Foundation provided more than $738,001 in financial services and debt relief, including more than $54,000 in direct financial aid to families in need. Since its inception, DONNA Marathon Weekend has raised funds that have supported The DONNA Foundation’s service to more than 20,647 families living with breast cancer, disbursed $3.3 million toward groundbreaking breast cancer research, and provided more than $6.5 million in financial relief to those in need.
“The old saying goes, ‘life is ten percent what happens to you, and 90 percent how you react to it.’ As a three time survivor, that has never seemed more true to me,” said Donna Deegan, Jacksonville Mayor and founder of The Donna Foundation. “This race is all about reacting to life’s challenges with love over fear. I’m so grateful for the hope and joy and deep sense of accomplishment this event brings to so many, and the confidence it infuses into those who cross the finish line. This year, like every year, that infusion comes right on time. Welcome to Jacksonville –– I can’t wait to see you on the road!“
DONNA Marathon Weekend will once again bring events to Downtown Jacksonville and the Beaches. EverBank Stadium and the indoor Flex Field at Daily’s Place will be the host venue for the Friday and Saturday events, including the DONNA Health & Wellness Expo, sponsored by the Jaguars Foundation and Bold Events; the DONNA Dash, a family friendly one-mile fun run; the annual FIS DONNA 5K, which will start and finish at EverBank Stadium, giving runners the first look at the Jacksonville Sports District and a sneak peak of the “Stadium of the Future”; and the 110 Ultra Marathon. On Sunday, events return to the Beaches with the half marathon and full marathon. Marathon runners will complete a double loop course through Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic Beaches, beginning and ending at the Seawalk Pavilion in the heart of Jacksonville Beach.
Free and open to the public, the DONNA Health & Wellness Expo will feature educational events presented by Mayo Clinic, packet pickup, a tasting of ‘Sunny with a Chance of Flowers’ wines, provided by sponsor Sunny Wines, photo opportunities, shopping and much more.
New to DONNA Marathon Weekend this year is the Pete’s Bar DONNA Crawl. This new event, presented by iTP Partners, features a start alongside the marathoners, veering off to complete a 2 mile course, ending at the famed Pete’s Bar. Athletes can grab a beverage at the Neptune Beach institution, then find a spot to cheer on half and full marathon finishers at the Beaches Town Center.
In addition to being a Boston Qualifier, the DONNA Marathon has been selected again this year by the Abbott World Marathon Majors as a qualifying race for the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Ranking program. Through this distinction, participants in the DONNA Marathon Tours & Travel can compete to earn ranking points to be invited to the 2026 AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group Championships.
Race registration will remain open through Saturday, February 1 at 1 p.m., while capacity allows; many events are expected to sell out. Volunteer opportunities through the Daiichi-Sankyo DONNA Volunteer program are still available. Local Jacksonville residents can enjoy discounted registration thanks to the Locals Rule program, sponsored by the Jaguars Foundation and Bold Events. For more information on the DONNA Marathon Weekend and its events, visit breastcancermarathon.com.
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About The DONNA Foundation:
The DONNA Foundation was established in June of 2003 by three-time breast cancer survivor, award-winning journalist and Mayor of the City of Jacksonville Donna Deegan to meet the critical financial needs of the underserved living with breast cancer. Our mission is to provide hope, support, and financial relief to those living with breast cancer, creating a world where breast cancer patients are freed from any barriers to their successful treatment. Over the last two decades, The DONNA Foundation has served more than 20,000 families, securing more than $6.5 million in financial services and debt relief. The organization has also disbursed more than $3.3 million in support of translational genomics and immune studies. The organization also operates events and programs for survivorship, education and awareness. For more information, visit TheDONNAFoundation.org.
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