DONNA Marathon Weekend Celebrates 16th Running

The 16th annual DONNA Marathon Weekend will turn up the pink in Downtown Jacksonville and the Beaches February 3-5, 2023. The theme of this year’s race is “Destination DONNA,” honoring DONNA Marathon Weekend as a beautiful destination race, bringing thousands of runners to Jacksonville from around the world, and reinforcing the Foundation’s destination vision of a future without breast cancer as the organization celebrates its 20th anniversary year.

The 26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer™ is the only marathon in the country dedicated to breast cancer research and care. Race proceeds provide financial assistance and support to families living with breast cancer, and fund groundbreaking breast cancer research. DONNA Marathon Weekend is an official event of The DONNA Foundation, and is a signature event of the organization’s Survivorship, Education and Awareness Program.

Over the last 16 years, funds raised from DONNA Marathon Weekend have supported the Foundation’s service to more than 17,000 families living with breast cancer. The Foundation provides more than $662,000 in financial services and debt relief each year, including more than $90,000 in direct financial aid to families in need. The organization has also disbursed $3.3 million toward groundbreaking breast cancer research and celebrated survivorship with more than 140,000 athletes across all DONNA finish lines. Additionally, the annual race has contributed nearly $60 million in economic impact to the City of Jacksonville.

“Over the last two decades, we have seen so many wonderful milestones met as a Foundation — and DONNA Marathon Weekend is a big part of our success in raising funds, celebrating survivorship and supporting breast cancer patients and families,” said Donna Deegan, Founder of The DONNA Foundation. “This year is extra special, because the 16th running of DONNA Marathon Weekend also marks my 16th year of living cancer-free. It reinforces the important work that we do for so many throughout our community and beyond. As we run together this year, we are especially grateful for the staff, volunteers and numerous partners who have supported the Foundation’s mission throughout the years. Twenty years in, and there’s still only one destination we’re focusing on: to finish breast cancer.”

DONNA Marathon Weekend boasts new locations and partners for 2023. TIAA Bank Field will be host to the Friday and Saturday events, including the DONNA Health & Wellness Expo, presented by the Jacksonville Jaguars and hosted in the Dream Finders Homes Flex Field; the DONNA Dash, a family friendly one-mile fun run; the annual FIS DONNA 5K, presented by Equitable Advisors that will start and finish inside TIAA Bank Field; and the 110 Ultra Marathon. On Sunday, events return to the Beaches with the Half Marathon and Marathon, featuring a new course, presented by Genentech. This year, Marathon runners will complete a newly configured double loop course, which will begin and end at the Seawalk Pavilion in the heart of Jacksonville Beach. The Start and Finish line is sponsored by Gilead Oncology.

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 Wanda Age Group World Ranking program for 2023. Through this distinction, participants in the DONNA Marathon can compete to earn ranking points to be invited to the 2024 AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group Championships.

Race registration will remain open through February 4, while space allows. For more information on the DONNA Marathon Weekend and its events, visit www.breastcancermarathon.com.