The DONNA Foundation shares details for 2026 race weekend
Jacksonville, Fla. –– July 8, 2025 –– The DONNA Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing hope, support and financial relief to individuals living with breast cancer, announced today the official opening of registration for the highly anticipated DONNA Marathon Weekend 2026. This year’s event brings an exciting new partnership with the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic, opening October 2025, which will serve as the official host hotel for the weekend of January 30 – February 1, 2026.
DONNA Marathon Weekend serves as a cornerstone of The DONNA Foundation’s Survivorship, Education and Awareness Program. As the organization’s premier annual event, it not only celebrates those living with breast cancer but also generates critical funding to advance the Foundation’s mission. Proceeds support programs that remove barriers to care and improve outcomes for patients nationwide, working toward a future where breast cancer treatment is accessible and successful for all.
The 2026 DONNA Marathon Weekend theme, Destination: Love, is dedicated to celebrating the fierce, unshakeable feeling that reminds us that we don’t run alone. Love is the heartbeat of every survivor’s story, and reinforces that every start line we cross, and every finish line we reach is part of something bigger than ourselves. Destination: Love is a call to action, and The DONNA Foundation invites everyone to join in the effort to finish breast cancer.
“DONNA Marathon Weekend is such a meaningful tradition for our Foundation and the communities we serve — it’s where stories of survivorship, love, and community come to life,” said Amanda Napolitano, Executive Director of The DONNA Foundation. “These events aren’t just about miles or medals — they’re about showing up for one another, serving as a powerful reminder that love can carry us through even the most difficult moments of a breast cancer journey. We’re incredibly proud to return part of our weekend to the Mayo Clinic campus, where this movement began, and to partner with the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic to welcome participants with care and compassion. This new chapter honors where we started and reminds us why we keep going: to serve patients, celebrate survivors, and move closer to the finish line of this disease together.”
The DONNA Foundation is proud to partner with the new Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic, its new, exclusive hotel partner this year. Opening October 2025, Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic will offer a modern, coastal-inspired retreat in the heart of Northeast Florida. Located on the Mayo Clinic campus, the 252-room property features spacious suites, a resort-style outdoor pool, and elevated dining at Coastal Kitchen, offering an organic-focused, dietitian-approved menu, providing a convenient and comfortable base for participants and their families. As the exclusive host hotel for DONNA Marathon Weekend, guests will enjoy easy access to race-day transportation, pre-race events, such as the annual Health & Wellness Expo, and post-race celebrations. Special room rates and amenities for DONNA Marathon Weekend participants are available to book now here.
“At Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic, we are honored to support The DONNA Foundation and its incredible mission to uplift and empower those impacted by breast cancer,” said Jayson Zimmer, General Manager of Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic. “As a new hotel rooted in wellness, care, community, and comfort, we’re proud to welcome race participants, families, and supporters with warm hospitality during such an inspiring and meaningful event. We look forward to partnering with The DONNA Foundation this year, and for many years to come.”
DONNA Marathon Weekend — renowned for its inspiring atmosphere, commitment to providing care to those living with the disease and history of raising funds for critical breast cancer research — invites participants of all levels to join in the race of a lifetime. From the full marathon to the half marathon, to the 5K, Pete’s Bar DONNA Crawl and DONNA Dash, all taking place from the beautiful Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach this year, there are distances for everyone to participate. The full schedule of races and events, including the health and wellness expo, will be announced in the coming months. Participants are encouraged to register early to secure their spot and take advantage of early bird pricing, available for all races. The power of this weekend comes from the whole community showing up — on the course and beyond. Get involved by signing up for a race, fundraising individually or with a team, volunteering, advocating for improved access to care or simply cheer on runners and survivors at the 19th Annual National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer.
Last year, The DONNA Marathon was voted one of the “flattest” marathons in the country by OutdoorsWire, recognized by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and voted Best in Jax by Jacksonville Magazine. DONNA Marathon Weekend is more than a race –– it’s a movement, a mission and a celebration of all we can do together. The DONNA Marathon has also been selected 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 can compete to earn ranking points to be invited to the AbottWMM MTT Age Group Championships.
For more information and to register for DONNA Marathon Weekend 2026, visit breastcancermarathon.org. Registrations processed on July 8 will receive a 10% launch day discount.
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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/.
About Hilton
Opening October 2025, Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic offers a modern, coastal-inspired retreat in the heart of Northeast Florida. Located just minutes from Jacksonville’s pristine beaches, top golf courses, and vibrant cultural attractions, this eight-story, 252-room flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts property is designed for business guests, medical patients and families, and leisure travelers. Hilton Jacksonville delivers elevated hospitality with laid-back charm. Highlights include its signature restaurant Coastal Kitchen featuring a menu of locally sourced organic dishes, a lobby coffee shop showcasing an independent local roaster, a resort-style outdoor pool, wellness-focused amenities, and over 21,000 square feet of flexible event space. Blending sophisticated design with the serenity of its wooded, waterfront setting, the hotel is a refreshing new destination for travelers seeking comfort, convenience, and a sense of place. For more information or to book a stay, visit hilton.com or contact jaxmo_hotel@hilton.com.