A big change is coming to next year’s 26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer.
It’s going to start and end at the Beaches Town Center.
Exact details for the new course haven’t been announced yet but organizers confirm the 26.2 mile route will go through Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach.
Previously the race ended at The Mayo Clinic, which required runners to cross the Intracoastal. Once the specific course is determined it will be released on this web page.
The 12th annual marathon will be held the weekend of February 8 - 10, 2019 and will include a 5K, half marathon, marathon, ultramarathon and event challenges.
Thousands of runners from all 50 states and many countries take part.
We are THRILLED to announce that the 12th Annual DONNA Marathon Weekend will start and finish in the heart of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach, Florida! Known by locals as the @Beachestowncent! #runDONNA #TogetherWeWill pic.twitter.com/QZSBLo3tU2
— 26.2 with Donna (@262withDonna) June 4, 2018
The marathon, which is a fundraiser to fight breast cancer through research, funding and treatment, was conceived by former First Coast News anchor and three-time breast cancer survivor Donna Deegan.
She runs The Donna Foundation which has served more than 11,000 families in need and dispersed more than $5 million.
"It has helped enormously as we research the genetic components to cancer," said Dr. Edith Perez, oncologist with the Mayo Clinic during a previous First Coast Connect episode.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Each year it is estimated that over 252,710 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,500 will die, according to the foundation.
Additional Information
- 26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer
- The DONNA Foundation
- National Breast Cancer Foundation
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
