JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - On a crisp winter morning, 10,000 runners took to the streets of Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Jacksonville to help end Breast Cancer.
The National Marathon to End Breast Cancer, better known locally as the 26.2 with Donna, attracted a huge field ranging from top marathoners trying to achieve Olympic qualifying times to family members running to remember their loved ones who battled the disease.
Many of the runners donned pink, from tutus to firefighters running in a full pink gear, in support of those who are battling the disease.
We 💓 you, Jacksonville.
— First Coast News (@FCN2go) February 14, 2016
Rock that @262withDonna loud & proud! 💪🏼#RunDONNA #betheFINISH pic.twitter.com/77bhxQhjeU
"This is for my cousin, she survived cancer." said Omari, a runner from Orlando who finished the half marathon.
Bryan and Cam Harmon came all the way from Canton, Ohio to run with their neighbor, Beth McClain, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
"It's very emotional. It's good to have a purpose to run that far," said Cam.
For Leah Hannigan of Jacksonville, the race is a family affair. "I love running this race. I always like to wear pink." My husband brought my girls," she said.
Marc Burget was the top finisher of the full marathon while Julie Stackhouse was the top female finisher.
Proceeds from the marathon go to breast cancer research at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.