Davis County locales will be part of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation’s (HCF) iconic Huntsman SportsFest, to be held on Saturday, June 12, as an in-person event. Each year, this event brings the community together to fund groundbreaking research at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI). With the health and safety of participants, volunteers, and staff in mind, this year’s event will include also a virtual participation option.

“We’re very excited to be back in-person this year,” said Raegan Erickson, event coordinator for the foundation. “The beauty this year is that participants can choose their preferred method of participation – either in-person or virtual.”

Last year’s event was completely virtual, but still exceeded expectations by raising over $330,000 among 500 participants, Erickson said. The goal this year is to raise $500,000. 

As in the past, the Fest consists of several different elements – from walking to running to cycling, including a route that runs through Davis County all the way to Clinton. Each event has the same start and finish line – on the University of Utah’s Fort Douglas Field.

“We have a kids fun run, a 5K and 10K walk or run, and a cycling element that can stretch anywhere between 25 and 140 miles,” Erickson said. “We’ll have all safety adaptations in place, including having participants in smaller groups to allow for distancing.” There are various starting times, as highlighted by the chart shown with this story. A virtual closing ceremony and top fundraisers will be announced. Participants can also follow and tag Huntsman Heroes, #huntsmansportsfest on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates.

Since its inception in 2010, this event has raised more than $4.5 million to support lifesaving cancer research at HCI. Erickson said 100% of proceeds will go to support research. Donors may direct support to specific areas of research such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.

 “We’ve seen an incredible response from individuals and sponsors willing to step up and donate to support HCI’s vision of a cancer-free frontier,” said Susan Sheehan, president and chief operating officer of HCF. “We’re looking forward to being with and supporting one another again as we safely gather for this year’s Huntsman SportsFest. Our participants are true heroes, raising much-needed funds to advance cancer research at HCI.”

To register, donate, or learn more, visit huntsmansportsfest.com.