Thousands set to lace up for Breast Cancer Ireland’s Very Pink Run 2026

The countdown is officially on as Breast Cancer Ireland launches the 2026 Very Pink Run, proudly supported once again by Very.

Back for another year of pink-powered fundraising, this unique and family focussed feelgood event, will see three large scale live events take place across Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork between 29^th August and 6^th September – all in support of ground breaking breast cancer research and nationwide awareness and education programmes.

Now bigger and brighter than ever, this event is a full-on feel-good festival combining fun, fitness, community spirit and purpose.

More than just a fun run, jog or walk event, it has become a nationwide movement that unites thousands of participants (men, women and children) in support of a future free from breast cancer.

Ireland’s leading breast cancer charity is now inviting people of all ages and abilities to register, don their pink, gather their friends, family, or colleagues and take part in what is Breast Cancer Ireland’s most important fundraising event of the year.

Since its inception, the Very Pink Run has grown into a truly global movement, with over 110,000 participants across 40 countries, raising a phenomenal €8M+ to date.

This year, the pink wave is set to sweep across Dublin on 29^th August, Kilkenny on 30^th August & Cork on 6th Sept, with thousands more expected to lace up for one (or more!) of the events.

All three live events will offer a vibrant festival-style experience, making them a perfect family-friendly day out.

Alongside the 5k & 10k run and walk routes, guests can enjoy live music, children’s entertainment, family games and a range of festival style food trucks, promising a fun filled, uplifting atmosphere from start to finish. There are no limits – and no pressure, just a shared commitment to making a difference.

At the starting line, will be a large group of very well-known faces from the worlds of Media, the Arts, and Showbiz, who have already joined this year’s ‘Very Pink Tribe’ as event Ambassadors including RTE’s Maura Derrane, Newstalk presenter Dr Ciara Kelly, Dancing with the Stars judge Karen Byrne and her fiancé, singer Jake Carter, politician Hazel Chu and influencer Jennifer Wrynne, both of whom have recently been through treatment themselves for breast cancer, alongside long standing Breast Cancer Ireland Ambassadors Elaine Crowley of Virgin Media, Rugby star Shane Byrne and presenter James Patrice.

 Also lending their wholehearted support to the cause are influencers Chris Connolly, Terrie McEvoy and her husband David Fitzpatrick, along with well-known Corkonians Dr Monica Oikeh, and fitness guru Lesley Giltinan aka Lean with Lesley who will once again lead the warm up at this year’s Cork Very Pink Run event.

These Very Pink Run Ambassadors will help rally thousands of supporters across Ireland and abroad to show up, step out, and support the cause — demonstrating that every step taken is a stride towards a future where breast cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease for the 1 in 7 women and 1 in 738 men diagnosed with this disease in their lifetime.

Participants can take part by running, jogging or walking, in one of three live large-scale physical events. Alternatively, people can also take part in a ‘virtual’ sense in their own local communities any time between 29^th August and 6^th September inclusively.

The Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run events are a fun filled, family focussed and inclusive day out, where everyone is welcome, with no upper or lower age limits. The live events are aimed at casual strollers, keen walkers, joggers and seasoned runners alike, over a 5k or 10k distance, and are open to families, friends and solo participants.

Registrations for the event are now open on www.verypinkrun.ie and Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland speaking at the launch said “The Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run is so much more than an annual fundraising event. It is a powerful movement that brings together thousands of people who share a common goal – creating a future where breast cancer no longer devastates lives and families.

Every participant, every donation and every kilometre completed helps to fund the research, innovation and education programmes that are changing outcomes for patients today while shaping a better future for generations to come.

Whether you choose to join us in Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork or virtually from anywhere in the world, we would encourage everyone to get involved. Pull on your pink T-shirt, rally your family, friends and colleagues, and join us as we work together to rewrite the future of breast cancer in Ireland.”

Aisling continued, “I would also like to thank our valued and longstanding sponsors Very (title sponsor) and Silver Tier sponsors Cornmarket, Glanbia, Flynn O’Driscoll and Ohshima whose unrelenting support and partnership allows us to reinvest all profits from the event into our critical research, awareness and education programmes”