16th annual DONNA Marathon kicks off

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Sunday was the third day of the 16th Annual Donna Marathon weekend, dedicated to breast cancer research and care.

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***The Donna Foundation raised about 250,000 dollars, with a 500,000-dollar goal. ***

Runners in all shades of pink took to the streets of Jacksonville Beach as they participated in the race to finish breast cancer.

The 16th Annual Donna Marathon weekend started with events on Friday and ended with the half and full marathon races today.

Derek Mauro was the first to cross the finish line for the half marathon. He completed it in one hour and 17 minutes. Mauro ran for his stepsister, who suffered a brain injury last year.

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“She’s here and she’s running today, despite the fact that doctors did not think that she would like ever do this again,” said Mauro. “This is why I came here.”

This year the Donna Marathon celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Donna Foundation. Donna Deegan, the founder of the Donna Foundation, is running for Jacksonville Mayor in 2023 Duval County Unitary Election.

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Today’s races were dedicated to breast cancer research and care, with about 4,000 runners participating.

The athletes’ village in at Jacksonville beach, was a place where marathon runners came to celebrate breast cancer survivorship before and after they crossed the finish line

Lainie Smith, the first woman to finish the Donna Half Marathon said she ran for the community.

“I’ve been training a bunch over the past couple months and honestly the crowds out today and the energy absolutely contagious,” said Smith. “There wasn’t really a dull spot throughout the course so that was definitely a unique race in that.”

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