Partners in Care Donut Dash

An annual charity fun run to benefit head and neck cancer patients returns to Cape Coral this spring with a new location and a 10K option after drawing a record-breaking number of participants in 2024.

The 13th annual Head & Neck 10K and 5K Run/2-Mile Walk – aka the Donut Dash - happens on Saturday, April 26, with an 8 a.m. start at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Drive in Cape Coral. The 2024 edition drew more than 400 participants to Jaycee Park. Free head and neck cancer screenings will be offered at the Lee County event.

Registration is open now through race day, with an entry fee of $30 for adults and $20 for those ages 17 and under (children under 5 years of age are free). All participants who register in advance will receive a race T-shirt; with registration fees increasing by $5 in the week prior to the event.

All funds raised benefit the nonprofit Partners in Care Foundation and will be used to provide financial assistance to head and neck cancer patients and to provide cancer screenings and treatment in southwest Florida.

The first three male and female finishers in each age category of the timed run receiving a lanyard pin. Strollers and pets are allowed only in the 2-mile walk.

The race series was started 11 years ago to bring awareness to head and neck cancers and raise money for those unable to afford costly recovery therapies that often aren’t covered by insurance, or which require a very high copay. It subsequently grew to include events across the country, with nearly 1,600 runners, walkers and volunteers helping generate more than $100,000 in 2024.

Sponsorships are also available for the Cape Coral event, starting at $50 for a sign displayed along the route with the name of a loved one.