The DONNA Foundation will celebrate a milestone this February, when the nonprofit hosts its 10th Anniversary DONNA Marathon Weekend, to be held Feb. 10-12 throughout Jacksonville’s scenic Beaches communities.
Friday, Feb. 10
Marathon weekend festivities will kick off with a “Social Shakeout Run” Friday, Feb. 10 at the Southern Grounds in The Courtyard at 200 First St. in Neptune Beach. Beginning at 8 a.m., participants will run or walk a three-mile route with founder Donna Deegan and several special guests, including author and Attitudinal Healing Founder Gerald Jampolsky, M.D.; Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson; DONNA Training Director Jeff Galloway; and former NFL quarterback and DONNA Official Personal Trainer David Garrard. The run is free and open to the public.
Following the shakeout, a free DONNA Expo will be held throughout the weekend at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center at 1000 Water St. in Jacksonville. Exhibitors will display apparel, fitness gear and samples throughout the center, and on-site marathon registration and packet pick-up will also be available at this time.
In addition, the Mayo Clinic will offer a course reviewing advances in breast cancer management presented by doctors Minetta Liu, Alvaro Moreno-Aspitia and Kathryn Ruddy. The course, which requires registration, will take place both Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf and Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Saturday, Feb. 11
The festivities continue Saturday, Feb. 11 with the special Anniversary DONNA 10K for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the convention center, with the race begining at 8 a.m. The DONNA 5K will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a Fun Run at 11 a.m. Rounding out the Saturday runs will be a DONNA 110 Ultra Marathon, which will cover 110 miles through the night in Atlantic Beach from the ultra base camp in Blue Memorial Park.
Sunday, Feb. 12
The DONNA Marathon Weekend draws to a close with the presentation of the 26.2 with DONNA National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer and the DONNA Marathon Relay. With both half-marathon and full marathon options, the race begins at ATP Tour Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach and travels north through the Beaches communities, ending at Mayo Clinic.Parking opens at 4 a.m.; the Runner’s Village’s opens at 5 a.m. The official start of the race will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the Celgene start line in THE PLAYERS parking off ATP Tour Boulevard. Following the race will be a number of festivities, including a post-race party at the Runners’ Village at Mayo Clinic, awards ceremonies, an after-party and a toast to the finish.
The 10th anniversary weekend also includes a number of invitation-only receptions and fundraising events. For a complete schedule, visit www.breastcancermarathon.com/marathon-weekend/schedule-of-events. Those interested in participating may register at www.register.breastcancermarathon.com/bcmmarathon and use the promo code JG2017 through Feb. 7 for $10 off their registration fees.
In addition, The DONNA Foundation, alongside Leading Ladies 904, TacoLu and the #lunited teams, will present its Tacos for Tatas event Feb. 20. This Pink Tie Edition of the annual charity event was previously scheduled for Oct. 10, 2016 but was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Now set to take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at HOBNOB in Unity Plaza, the evening will commemorate 10 years dedicated to breast cancer research, awareness and care through the DONNA Marathon Weekend. Featuring performances by The Chris Thomas Band and Monarch Ballroom and Dance Studio, food and drinks by local businesses TacoLu Baja Mexicana, HOBNOB and Watts Juicery, sweets by Alley Cakes Bakery and more, guests will enjoy a toast to the marathon’s history and the community that made it possible. Individual tickets are $100 and may also be purchased online at www.breastcancermarathon.com/more-donna-events/t4tpinktie. Tickets previously purchased for the original date will be honored.
