Thousands of participants are expected to lace up their shoes as the 38th Annual Avera Race Against Cancer returns Saturday, May 9, with events across eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota.
Avera Race Against Cancer running and walking events will take place in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Mitchell, Pierre, Yankton and Marshall, Minnesota, with total participation projected to exceed 7,500 people. Last year’s event broke participation records with a total of 7,747 participants across all regions.
“We never take that for granted,” said Reid Jensen, director of annual giving for the Avera Foundation. “Yet a lot of our signups each year are based on the excitement and inspiration people have experienced or heard about from past events.”
The annual fundraiser supports patients facing all types of cancer, with proceeds benefiting a wide range of services. Among them is the Avera Cancer Institute Navigation Center, a 24/7 call center offering guidance and support to patients and families.
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Funds also help cover lodging and transportation assistance for individuals and families, screenings and early detection, genetic testing, specialized equipment, wigs for cancer patients, complementary therapies, such as massage and Arts in Healing, and grief support and survivor events, according to the Avera Health press release.
Organizers emphasize that all dollars raised stay local to support patients and families in the region. As of April 30, fundraising totals had already reached more than $780,000 toward an $850,000 goal, $100k more than last year’s goal. Donations can be made online at AveraRace.org.
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For those wishing to volunteer for the event, sign up online on the Avera Race Against Cancer Sioux Falls event page at averafoundation.org. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. Those who sign up to volunteer will receive a 2026 Avera Race Volunteer shirt.
There is also still time to register individually on the event website.The Avera Race is one of the few large events of its kind that offers “week of” and “same day” registrations, according to the Avera press release.
“We’ve been doing that for 37 years and will continue to do that,” said Elijah Bonde, community giving manager for the Avera Foundation.
Sioux Falls race details
In Sioux Falls, the race will start and finish at the GreatLIFE Fitness Club at Avera McKennan Fitness Center at 3400 S. Southeastern Ave. Race course maps are available for each running or walking course. Parking information can be found on the Sioux Falls event page online at averafoundation.org.
Before the day of the event, all registered individual and team participants are required to pick up their race day packets at the GreatLIFE Fitness Club at Avera McKennan Fitness Center on the following dates and times:
Team packets:
- Friday, May 1, 1-7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Sunday, May 3, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Monday, May 4, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Individual packets:
- Thursday, May 7, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 8, 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Packets will include timing chips on racing bibs for the 5K and 10K races and the first 5,000 registrants will receive an official 2026 Avera Race Against Cancer shirt.
Whether rain or warms rays of sunshine, the race day schedule of events will be as follows:
- 6 a.m. — Complimentary shuttle buses begin, running in 15-minute increments until 10 a.m.
- 7 a.m. — Avera Race Expo and Survivor Pavilion opens
- 7:15 a.m. — Survivor group photo
- 7:40 a.m. — Song tribute to all survivors
- 7:45 a.m. — Aerobic warm up with Jackie Haggar-Tuschen, executive director at Avera McKennan Fitness Center
- 8 a.m. — 10K race start and breakfast buffet opens
- 8:15 a.m. — 5K race start
- 8:20 a.m. — 1.5 and 3-mile walk start
Both runs will be staggered and chip-timed. Race results will be posted online after the race at AveraRace.org.
‘Smiles, hugs and a few tears’
The Race offers countless moments that keep people coming back year after year. It’s a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together — united by purpose, driven by hope and committed to a cause that truly matters.
That spirit of unity is shown by not just runners and walkers, but also from local sponsors and organizations who make the event possible.
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This year, Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln serves as the title sponsor for the 2026 race, and events like the Sioux Empire Ford Club’s Mustang Cruise for Race Against Cancer, held on April 28, have helped build momentum and excitement leading up to race day.
For the participants themselves, they bring their own story, motivation and connection to the cause.
“Many [participants] are running enthusiasts who appreciate the chip-timed 5K and 10K races, with awards to top finishers,” Bonde said.
Others simply enjoy venturing out an a spring day for a leisurely 1.5-mile family walk or a 3-mile walk, while also supporting a good cause.
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In this instance, the race can also be a spectator sport for those who wish to cheer participants in support.
For those who stand beside patients in their hardest moments, the Avera Race Against Cancer is a day filled with meaning, and reflects the stories they carry, the lives they’ve cared for and the courage they witness every single day.
This is true for Jayna Boeve, mammography quality control technologist who leads a team from Avera primary care clinics in Sioux Falls, who has seen cancer tough the lives of not just patients but also co-workers, friends and family members.
“As healthcare workers, it’s especially meaningful for us to stand alongside our patients outside the clinical setting and show our support in a visible, unified way. It’s become a tradition that brings our team together for a cause that truly matters.”
For many others, the annual event is “deeply personal.”
Avera Foundation statistics reval that 90% of participants are not cancer survivors themselves but attend in support of someone they love, according to Avera’s press release on April 28.
“There’s a lot of fun as teams show their spirit. But there’s also inspiration as we recognize survivors and remember those who are no longer with us,” Jensen said. “We see a lot of smiles and hugs but also a few tears.”
Vanessa Carlson Bender is the Development and Public Health Reporter at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Reach her at vbender@gannett.com.
