Running for a Reason: 31st Annual Ellen’s Run
Click above to watch the 2026 Ellen’s Run Video!
More than 700 runners, walkers, volunteers, and supporters came together in Southampton on August 16 for the 31st Annual Ellen’s Run. For 31 years, Ellen’s Run has been more than a 5K. It is a celebration of community, a tribute to loved ones, and a powerful show of support to ensure that all women on the East End have access to quality breast cancer screening, treatment, education, and support—regardless of their circumstances.
This year’s participants included longtime supporters and first-time runners, families and local students, community teams, breast cancer survivors, and people running in honor or memory of someone they love. Some came to race. Others came to walk with friends and family. Many came carrying deeply personal stories.
Friends and families showed up to the 2026 Ellen’s Run to run together for a cause.
The funds raised through Ellen’s Run directly support the Ellen Hermanson Foundation’s work to help East End women navigate every stage of the breast cancer journey—from screening and early detection to treatment, transportation, emotional support, and other critical services.
For women who may face financial, geographic, or other barriers to care, these resources can be life-changing.
As Ellen Hermanson Foundation Executive Director Mady Schuman shared:
“This is our 31st year ensuring state-of-the-art breast cancer treatment is available for every woman across the East End. Thank you for being here, and thank you for supporting us.”
Breast cancer survivors gather for a group shot.
Ellen’s Run is a celebration but it is also a call to action. The race honors the legacy of Ellen Hermanson, whose experience with breast cancer inspired a lasting commitment to making sure women in the community have access to the care and support they need. More than three decades later, that mission remains as urgent as ever. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
As longtime Foundation board member and Ellen’s Run sponsor Cathy Tweedy of Saunders & Associates shared: “This work saves lives and changes lives.”
Ellen’s Run continues to demonstrate what is possible when our entire community comes together around a shared purpose. Thank you to every runner, walker, volunteer, sponsor, donor, survivor, family member, and supporter who helped make this year’s Ellen’s Run unforgettable! Your participation helps sustain vital breast cancer services for all women across the East End.
