When
Saturday, October 24th, 2026
Where
Fort Smith Bakery District, Fort Smith AR
Distances
5K · 10K
About this race
Event Overview
Whitney's Race is not just Whitney's race. It is a race against time for those yet to be afflicted with pancreatic cancer, the most deadly cancer. It is Time To Cure® pancreatic cancer.
About Whitney Marsh
- Legacy: Whitney Marsh perished at age 41, November 1, 2018, ten months after diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.
- Survival Rates: Five-year survival from pancreatic cancer stands at 6-9% showing little to no improvement in survival in the past 50 years despite vast medical advances across almost all other cancers.
- Current Statistics: Pancreatic cancer is currently the number two cancer killer in 2020 and researchers estimate pancreatic cancer will be the number one by 2030.
- Diagnosis Challenges: Diagnosis is often late begetting the need for local medical practitioner education as well as research for improved diagnostic testing and imaging.
Treatment Journey
- Standard Treatment: Once a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer has been made treatment usually involves chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy followed by curative intent surgery followed by more chemotherapy.
- Whitney's Experience: Whitney was scheduled for surgery, but the day before surgery a CT scan showed cancer had spread.
- Impact of Illness: She died within 4 months of the CT scan while re-starting chemotherapy and running 8-10 miles or biking 30-40 miles per day.
- Future Directions: Better pre-operative treatment options are the future.
Purpose of the Race
- Foundation Support: Whitney’s Race will fund the Whitney Marsh Foundation Inc for local education and national research for Pancreatic Cancer.
- Fund Allocation: Funds will be apportioned locally and the remainder with well respected national cancer research institutes such as MD Anderson.
- Call to Action: Whitney’s Race is a race against time. It is Time To Cure® pancreatic cancer.
Race Day Details
Whitney's Race day at the Fort Smith Bakery District will be a great day of running, racing, eating, and music.
- Event Type: Race for your best time and afterward hang out for a great time.
- Community Involvement: Bring yourself and friends to race. It is a day for family and friends who run or not.
- Participation Options: If you don't want to race, come anyway.
- Donation Opportunity: If you can’t come, consider a donation anytime! A brighter future for pancreatic cancer starts with YOU.
Event Information
Date: 2026-10-24
Location: Fort Smith Bakery District, Fort Smith, AR
More Info: Whitney's Race Official Page
Course map
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