Jacksonville — Spearheaded by Donna Deegan, a three-time breast cancer survivor and award-winning journalist, The DONNA Marathon Weekend includes a 5k Social Shakeout Rave, a 15k-relay, a half-marathon, a marathon, and a 110-mile ultramarathon. Event challenges and a Health & Wellness Expo adds to a weekend that promises to garner thousands to line the streets of Jacksonville and the beaches of Northeast Florida.
Events begin on Friday, February 4, and run through Sunday, February 5.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, The 26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer is the only marathon in the U.S. dedicated to breast cancer research and care. The weekend’s race theme - Together - remains recognized by CNN Travel as one of the “Seven Marathons Worth the Trip” and Women’s Running Magazine’s “Favorite Charity Race.”
The flat - and fast - Boston qualifier marathon course runs through Jacksonville’s beach communities - Jacksonville, Neptune, Atlantic, and Ponte Vedra. The marathon also serves as a qualifier for the 2022 Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Ranking program which allows runners to earn ranking points in order to be invited to the 2022 AbottWMM Wanda Age Group Championships.
“This weekend is very special to me,” said Deegan. “Not only as a three-time breast cancer survivor, but as someone who has always loved the opportunity to bring people together for a wonderful event in Jacksonville.”
The DONNA Foundation, a 501(C)3 non-profit established in 2008, funds cancer ground-breaking cancer research. The organization also works to financially assist individuals in under-served communities under-going treatment with programs from The DONNA CareLine. Services include resolving insurance and financial obstacles that impact care for uninsured and insured patients all across the country. The program also assists with access to care; workplace and employment protections; loss of income and compromised benefits; medical debt; and cost of living debt crisis that “forces many to choose between paying for treatment or paying for their essential costs of living, often resulting in a decision to go off therapy.”
The foundation’s Survivorship, Education & Awareness programs also serve to empower survivors and their families through programs and events such as the marathon weekend.
Topping off the organization’s A-game is its funding for “bench top” cutting edge breast cancer research in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer with intentions to ultimately eradicate this insidious disease. The foundation’s initial $500,000 contribution to the Mayo Clinic made in 2008, afforded them the ability to establish its Breast Cancer Translational Genomics Research Program. Today, with more than $3 million in contributions, the Mayo Clinic has built a genomics infrastructure in Jacksonville. Laboratory teams research state of the art, ground-breaking and “tough to fund” breast cancer treatments including the widely publicized Triple Negative Breast Cancer Vaccine Trials. They also provide genomics support for studies in all cancers.
“We created this program to unravel the genes that cause breast cancer to come up with new and innovative treatments,” said Deegan. “We’re in an exciting new frontier.”
As a three-time breast cancer survivor, Deegan is grateful to be “living and breathing.” She said with each diagnosis she learned a greater lesson. Moving from the first “slam dunk,” her second bout became the venue for the birth of The DONNA Foundation.
“I connected with others with financial tribulations while navigating a difficult time,” she said. “I started The DONNA Foundation to make sure that we could help those people.”
She described the third diagnosis as “dire,” one that had her solely focused on enjoying life in the present moment. Now Deegan celebrates 15 years of being cancer free.
“I’m so grateful to be here and so grateful to be doing something useful for others,” she said. “Working with the Foundation has brought me so much joy. Sometimes the most difficult things in life can bring you the most joy, if you let it in.”
The 2022 half marathon and the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer will begin and end at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. The DONNA Marathon expo and 5k will be held at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds in Downtown Jacksonville.
All race categories will host a virtual option. Event sponsors include Genentech, Equitable Advisors, Gilead Oncology, and FIS.
Turn Up The Pink: Not in to running? Can you ring a cowbell? Join the DONNA Curb Crew. Together. “We will need ALL of your cowbells!” - they said.
For more information, visit www.TheDONNAFoundation.org .
Traffic impacts and road closures:
Saturday, February 5
Vehicles will be permitted to park on impacted city streets after 11 p.m., Saturday, February 5, until streets are opened for access. Vehicles parked on the race course after 11 p.m., Saturday, February 5, will be towed. Contact Beach Body Towing Co. at 904-249-9974.
Saturday, February 5
Downtown: The 5k/15k route will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 8:00 a.m on East Duval Street to Julia Street, East Monroe Street, East Adams Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard for the 5k/15k.
Sunday, February 6
Beaches: The marathon route will be closed to all vehicular traffic and street parking during race hours. Access to communities may be inhibited for up to 7 hours beginning at 6:00 a.m.
Jacksonville Beach may be inhibited for up to 7 hours beginning at 7:30 a.m. While in Jacksonville Beach, the race will be confined to 1st Street North, 1st Street South, Ocean Drive South, and Duval Drive.
Neptune Beach may be inhibited for up to 3 hours beginning at 7:40 a.m.
Atlantic Beach may be inhibited for up to 2.5 hours beginning at 7:45 a.m.
Ponte Vedra Beach may be inhibited for up to 4 hours beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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