National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer
The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer, also known as the Breast Cancer Marathon and the 26.2 with Donna, is an annual marathon sporting event held in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
The national breast cancer marathon and half-marathon begins at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville heading east on Butler Boulevard, through the beaches of Jacksonville (which includes Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach). The course will detour onto 2.5 miles of beautiful hard-packed sand on the Florida coastline, which is perfect for running! It ends at the Mayo Clinic.
The breast cancer marathon course will be open for 7 hours, allowing for a 16-minute per mile marathon or 32-minute per mile half-marathon pace.
Race
The Breast Cancer Marathon is open to all runners, male and female, from any nation, and is an official Boston Marathon qualifier.
The inaugural 26.2 mile race was held on February 17, 2008.
The Fourth Annual 26.2 with Donna The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer will be held on February 13, 2011 at 7:30 a.m.
About Us
26.2 with Donna The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer is the only U.S. marathon dedicated solely to raising funds to end breast cancer.
Our mission is to passionately produce world class running events to raise funds for ground breaking breast cancer research and empower women living with breast cancer.
Beneficiaries: The Donna Foundation and Mayo Clinic
Proceeds from the breast cancer marathon will go directly to The Donna Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to helping women with breast cancer. Since the inaugural year of 26.2 with Donna, The Donna Foundation has more than doubled the number of supported men and women to 3,000.
While a portion of the proceeds will be used by The Donna Foundation for the critical care of breast cancer survivors in need, the foundation has pledged to donate the majority of funds raised to Mayo Clinic for bench top research and its Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, which specializes in the detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Donna Deegan: Founder and Event Chairman
A three-time breast cancer survivor, Donna has a huge following as an evening news anchor for Gannett Broadcasting’s NBC and ABC affiliates in Jacksonville, Fla. She founded The Donna Foundation, which funds the critical needs of underserved women with breast cancer, and the "26.2 with Donna" program. She is an avid marathon runner, completing several after her cancer diagnosis.
Jeff Galloway: Event Training Director
U.S. Olympian Jeff Galloway has directed more than 100 races, including the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. Jeff was co-founder and co-director of the first Avon International Women’s Marathon. His monthly column appears in Runner’s World Magazine, and he has authored several best-selling running and fitness books. Through programs and seminars, he has coached hundreds of thousands to their goals.
Dr. Edith Perez: Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic Director
Dr. Edith Perez is recognized as one of the top breast cancer researchers in the world. She led a clinical trial which, last year, produced what is arguably the most significant breakthrough in breast cancer research in 30 years: a 52-percent decrease in the recurrence of HER-2 positive invasive breast cancer in patients who received trastuzumab (Herceptin) and chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone. Her latest research includes incorporation of new therapies and identifying genetic markers to find the best treatment for each patient.
Mayo Clinic Research
Mayo Clinic’s partnership in this endeavor cannot be understated. Known internationally, Mayo Clinic’s commitment to research extends throughout its three locations in Jacksonville, Fla., Rochester, Minn., and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. This research provides options for innovative treatments – not only for Mayo Clinic patients, but all individuals.
"After almost 50 years of running, organizing events and training runners for marathons, I’ve not seen a cause as powerful as that of fighting and ending breast cancer." - Jeff Galloway
“This marathon is dedicated solely to ending breast cancer in our lifetime and to caring for those who are living with the disease right now.” - Donna Deegan
Because of the 501(c)(3) status of The 26.2 with Donna Foundation, sponsorship dollars are largely tax deductible as are race entrance fees