“My lifelong goal to run a marathon seemed too daunting. But when I found out I could do it while raising money to help end cancer – it wasn’t just about me anymore; it’s about a much bigger, more worthwhile cause."
- American Cancer Society DetermiNation team member

Whether you are already an endurance athlete or looking to participate in your first event, the American Cancer Society can help you to make your miles more meaningful. Participation in a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, or cycling event can now also become a means to make a difference in the fight against cancer. With every step taken and every mile conquered, athletes are helping create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Several races across the country have become part of the DetermiNation endurance event program, allowing athletes to turn their participation into a chance to make a difference in the fight against cancer. Athletes who choose to join the DetermiNation program commit to a fundraising minimum, and in return, they enjoy many benefits that DetermiNation has to offer: training tips from experts, an exclusive DetermiNation racing shirt, a personal Web site, race-day amentities, and the knowledge that they are helping to save lives and create a world with more birthdays.

Click here to learn more about DetermiNation and to find a list of participating races.

Click here to watch a brief video about our DetermiNation program.

In addition, relationships are in place with other races that are not part of the DetermiNation program, but provide participants with an opportunity to dedicate their participation to the American Cancer Society. To learn more about these events, click on the links below:

Burlington Triathlon - Burlington, VT – Sunday, September 12, 2010

ING Hartford Marathon/Half Marathon – Hartford, CT – Saturday, October 9, 2010

Boston's Run to Remember - Boston - Sunday, May 30, 2010

Bicycles Battling Cancer is the American Cancer Society’s own cycling event that takes riders nearly 75 miles over scenic back roads between Worcester and Boston. Cyclists participating in the full 75-mile ride pay a $50 registration fee, and those on a team with five or more riders commit to a fundraising minimum of $400 each, while individual riders or cyclists on teams with fewer than five riders commit to a fundraising minimum of $500. There are two other options for riders:

• 25 Miles - Holliston to Boston - Cyclists participating in the 25 mile ride will pay a $50 registration fee and make a minimum fundraising commitment. Cyclists on a team with five or more riders commit to a fundraising minimum of $300 each, while individual riders or cyclists on teams with fewer than five riders commit to a fundraising minimum of $350.
• Youth Ride - Dover to Boston (approximately 15 miles) - The youth ride is open to riders age 10-16 who are accompanied by an adult already partcipating in either the 75 or 25 mile routes. A $25 registration fee is required, and youth are encourged to raise a minimum of $100.

Spin for Hope is a three-hour indoor cycling event that takes place at dozens of health clubs across New England the first Sunday of March. Participants can register as an individual and cycle for the entire three hours, or form a team and take turns cycling. Families, friends, corporations, and fitness clubs are encouraged to form teams. Individuals registering to cycle the entire three hours should strive to raise at least $100 per hour. Those registering as part of a team are asked to raise $100 each.

Spin Odyssey, a similar but third-party fundraiser, is held at the Fitness & Tennis Club in Norwalk, CT, on the same day as Spin for Hope.

Click here to learn more about these two events.

Are you already participating in another event that does not currently have a relationship with the American Cancer Society? With Team ACS you can turn any event into a chance to support the life saving mission of the American Cancer Society. Register with Team ACS, and use the online tools to promote your efforts and collect donations. Just set your goal, send email right from your Team ACS personal page, and then track your fundraising progress.

Click here to learn more about Team ACS.

Whether you are an athlete or a novice trying to improve your health through exercise, we welcome your participation! In addition to lowering your own cancer risk through exercise, you will be helping the American Cancer Society continue to educate the public about ways to reduce their risk and screen for cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages. Donations also allow the Society to continue to fund cancer researchers with groundbreaking ideas. Our track record is impressive: 44 of the scientists we funded early in their careers, when few others would, went on to win the Noble Prize. Society-funded research has led to:

• The Pap smear to detect abnormal cells before they become cancerous
• Establishing mammography as the gold standard to find breast cancer early, before tumors can be felt
• The cure for childhood leukemia
• The PSA test for prostate cancer screening
• Identification of smoking as a cause of lung cancer
• The discovery of genes for inherited breast and colon cancers
• The discovery of treatments (such as Herceptin) to improve breast cancer survival and drugs (such as Tamoxifen) to reduce the risk of second or first breast cancer
• Knowledge that genetics, diet, lack of exercise, and alcohol abuse can increase a person's cancer risk

Learn more about reducing your cancer risk through exercise and nutrition.