DONNA Foundation to ‘Celebrate Every Mom’ with Mother’s Day 5K

The DONNA Foundation will host its annual Black Knight DONNA Mother’s Day 5K race this spring in Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood. The event will be held on Saturday, May 13, starting and finishing at the Black Knight Riverside campus.

Funds raised through the 5K and the Celebrate Every Mom Fundraising Campaign will support The DONNA Foundation’s mission to provide economic assistance and emotional support to individuals living with breast cancer and fund groundbreaking breast cancer research. 

Approximately one in three patients served by The DONNA Foundation are mothers with children at home. By hosting this event on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, foundation leaders hope to inspire moms everywhere to take steps toward understanding, improving and protecting their breast health.

“As a mom, the annual DONNA Mother’s Day race holds a special place in my heart,” said Amanda Napolitano, executive director of The DONNA Foundation. “Moms who are undergoing breast cancer treatment while raising their families need our support, and we love honoring and celebrating them at this event every year. We look forward to welcoming every mom in Jacksonville and beyond to Riverside this Mother’s Day weekend to run, walk, fundraise and cheer on these fierce women and their families.”

The Mother’s Day race will begin at 8 a.m. Along the way, participants will experience the beauty of Riverside’s historic architecture and gardens at the height of the spring blooming season, and the iconic St. Johns River via the Jacksonville River Walk.

“Unfortunately, breast cancer is something that has touched many Black Knight family members,” said Cheryl Kelly, The DONNA Foundation board member and senior director of human resources at Black Knight. “Our company is proud to have sponsored The DONNA Mother’s Day 5K these past several years and is equally proud of the impact The DONNA Foundation has on our community.”

During the 30 days leading up to Mother’s Day (May 14), The DONNA Foundation is celebrating moms locally and across the nation through its Celebrate Every Mom campaign. Supporters can join in this effort by:

• Registering to run or walk in the Black Knight DONNA Mother’s Day 5K. Runners can choose to run in person or virtually their way, with time submissions open through May 14. Register at runsignup.com/donnamd5k. 
• Supporting the “Celebrate Every Mom” gift challenge by making a donation in support of the critical programs of The DONNA Foundation, starting a fundraiser or joining an existing fundraising team. Organizations can go the extra mile by hosting a fundraiser in partnership with their places of business. Give or raise funds at runsignup.com/Race/Donate/FL/Jacksonville/DONNAMD5K.
• Partnering with The DONNA Foundation to become a sponsor of the 2023 Black Knight DONNA Mother’s Day 5K event. Sponsor and vendor opportunities designed to maximize brand exposure locally, regionally and nationwide to a unique and desirable demographic are available. Companies can also sponsor race registrations for employees. Learn more at runsignup.com/Race/DONNAMD5K/Page/sponsor.
• Honoring your favorite mom while also celebrating breast cancer survivorship. Share your stories using the hashtag #CelebrateEveryMom and follow The DONNA Foundation on social media for stories celebrating moms over the coming weeks. 
• Making an appointment for your mammogram on the Buddy Bus at the 5K, sponsored by Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center. Studies show early detection of breast cancer is key, noting that cancer caught in early stages has a 93% survival rate. To register for a mammogram at the 5K or another Buddy Bus event, go to baptistjax.com/buddy.

The Black Knight DONNA Mother’s Day 5K is the second event of The DONNA Foundation’s 2023 Fearless Series, with the final event of the year, the DONNA 5K at TPC Sawgrass taking place on October 7. Registration is open at runsignup.com/Race/Info/FL/Jacksonville/DONNAMD5K.
Full details for The DONNA Foundation’s 2024 Series, including the 17th Annual DONNA Marathon Weekend (February 2-4, 2024), will be announced later this year.