Athletes will race through the Jacksonville Beaches to finish breast cancer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — January 14, 2026 — The 19th 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 the Jacksonville Beaches January 30 through February 1, 2026. The theme of this year’s race is Destination: Love, a celebration of the fierce, unshakeable feeling that reminds us that we do not run alone, and reinforces that every start we cross, and every finish line we reach is part of something bigger than ourselves.
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 three in the country for best half marathon and number four in best marathon by USA Today 10Best, 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 2025, the Foundation served more than 706 patients and worked to resolve financial barriers related to housing, utilities, transportation and more through its DONNA CareLine. The Foundation provided more than $204,800 in financial services and debt relief, including more than $55,000 in direct financial aid to families in need, and served nearly 22,000 through the Foundation’s Survivorship, Education and Awareness programming.
Since its inception, DONNA Marathon Weekend has raised funds that have supported The DONNA Foundation’s service to more than 21,000 patients and families living with breast cancer, more than 300,000 individuals through the foundation’s programming, disbursed $3.3 million toward groundbreaking breast cancer research and provided more than $6.7 million in financial relief to those in need.
“DONNA Marathon Weekend is a truly special occasion,” stated Amanda Napolitano, Executive Director of The DONNA Foundation. “It’s where friends, families, and survivors gather to celebrate love over fear. The excitement and determination we see in participants, ready to put one foot in front of the other, mirrors the same fervor, tenacity, and self-belief required when facing a breast cancer diagnosis. We look forward to racing alongside you, cheering you on with every stride, as we continue our journey toward a world without breast cancer.”
This year, DONNA Marathon Weekend will host all of its beloved races and events at the Jacksonville Beaches, with the two day Health & Fitness Expo hosted at the brand new Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic. Races will take place at the Seawalk Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, including the DONNA Dash, a family friendly one-mile fun run; the annual FIS DONNA 5K; the 110 Ultra Marathon; and its signature half and full marathons. 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.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Jaguars Foundation remain deeply committed to their ongoing partnership with DONNA Marathon Weekend and the DONNA Foundation. While Saturday’s events have been relocated due to the construction transforming EverBank Stadium into the “stadium of the future,” the Jaguars will continue their partnership with The DONNA Foundation through the “Locals Rule” program, offering a discount to local athletes who wish to participate.
Free and open to the public, the DONNA Health & Wellness Expo will take place at the new host hotel for the weekend, the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic, and will feature Thrive Well — A Journey of Wellness, Screening & Survivorship, a two-day breast health education series presented by Mayo Clinic. The program includes expert-led sessions on screening, prevention, treatment advances, wellness, and survivorship, alongside patient conversations that bring these topics to life.
The Expo will serve as the central hub of activity at the host hotel throughout the weekend; all athletes will pick up their race packets here. Attendees can also enjoy wine tastings by Sunny with a Chance of Flowers, photo opportunities, shopping, and the chance to schedule an on-site mammogram with the Baptist MD Anderson Buddy Bus for those who are due for screening.
Returning to DONNA Marathon Weekend this year is the second annual Pete’s Bar DONNA Crawl. This fan favorite 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 2027 AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group Championships.
Race registration will remain open through Friday at 6:30 p.m. for Saturday races, and Saturday, January 31 at 3 p.m. for Sunday’s events, as capacity allows; race day registration and packet pickup at the race is not available. Many events are expected to sell out. Volunteer opportunities through the Daiichi-Sankyo DONNA Volunteer program are still available.
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 21,000 families through the DONNA Care Line and more than 300,000 individuals through its Survivorship Education and Awareness programming. It has secured more than $6.7 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.