JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — More than 6,000 people participated in all of the events during this year's 17th Annual DONNA Marathon Weekend, with about 4,000 hitting the streets bright and early Sunday morning during the marathon and half marathon at Jacksonville Beach.
The sunrise cast a pink glow across Jacksonville Beach and matched the colors in the crowd over 4,000 strong.
“To see the pink glow in the sky this morning and all these people just feeling the love and running for their loved ones and survivors, it’s overwhelming," Mayor Donna Deegan, founder of The DONNA Foundation, said.
Deegan, a three-time breast cancer survivor and current mayor of the City of Jacksonville, started the marathon 17 years ago. This year’s theme is Destination Hope, a message shared by many of the runners.
“I had double mastectomy, and was approached to help out my buddy when she was diagnosed," Anne Mackey, a breast cancer survivor and half marathon runner, said.
“This is something that brings people together in a way to understand what we need to do for breast cancer. We're survivors!" said Connie Hodges, a breast cancer survivor.
Encouragement was found both on and off the course.
“When you’re out here doing all these long miles, sometimes it can be lonely. So you just want someone to say go, just call your name, call your number, it just gives you that little last push you need to get to the finish line," said Cheryl Robinson, who handed out drinks and snacks to runners on 5th Street.
Mary Ladner is still undergoing chemotherapy, but that didn’t stop her from being the first breast cancer survivor to cross the finish line for the half marathon. An avid runner before she was diagnosed, there was no way she was letting breast cancer take away her competitive spirit.
“I’ve had my eyes set on this day since I was diagnosed on Jan. 3, 2023, and it was my goal to be here and be able to run this half marathon today. It was definitely like there was many hands on my back as I saw other people cheering and being out here for this important cause," said Ladner.
Money raised during the weekend will help The DONNA Foundation promote research and assist families. To date, the foundation has helped nearly 20,000 families with financial support as they battle breast cancer.