Created: 5/28/2009 4:10:34 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- "You have a chance to empower yourself!" That is the message from one-time Olympian and current running coach Jeff Galloway.
Galloway is on the First Coast for the third straight year, signing up hundreds of new recruits to train for 26.2 With Donna The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer.
He welcomed runners to the new 26.2 With Donna race headquarters in San Marco and told a packed house that they can change their lives and the lives of others by training to run the full or half marathon next February 21st.
"I have run 144 marathons and I have never seen any crowd that supports their marathoners as much as they do in this race," Galloway said.
"And the runners themselves are so inspired. They know they are running for a powerful cause, to end breast cancer, and it's just a wonderful experience."
"I've run the first two and now I'm back for year three. I'm a streaker," says running veteran Carolyn Graham. And this year, Graham brought someone with her.
Mike Kendall says the only time he's ever run before if is someone is chasing him. But he says Carolyn has convinced him he can do it.
"I figure if I can do something good for myself, and something that helps others at the same time, why not," he says.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the race go to breast cancer research and care.
That attracted three generations of one family to the race. It's the only marathon-distance race in the country dedicated to the cause.
Mary, her daughter, and her granddaughter are all running together.
"They'll probably leave me in the dust," says Mary, "but we are all signing up together and we'll all be out there running. My grandson Ethan will be the cheerleader."
The first day of the getting started training program in Jacksonville is Saturday, June 6th, at 7 a.m. at the Riverside YMCA.
Jeff Galloway will visit St. Augustine to sign up runners there on May 29th at the Prosperity Bank on Ponce De Leon Boulevard.
For more information visit breastcancermarathon.com and click on training.
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