Livestrong's Run for the Roses Brings Austin's Cancer Community Together Oct 18

• Run for the Roses, Livestrong’s 5K and 10K run and walk, takes place on Sunday, October 18 at Auditorium Shores, with races beginning at 8:00am CT. Every cancer survivor who crosses the finish line will receive a yellow rose. 

• Participants can run, walk or join virtually, form teams, and visit booths on-site to learn more about Livestrong’s local resources. 

• Every registration and dollar raised supports Livestrong’s survivorship services, with a goal of $100,000. 

AUSTIN, Texas, October 13, 2026: Livestrong, the Austin-born nonprofit dedicated to improving the daily lives of cancer survivors, will host Run for the Roses, its signature hometown 5K and 10K run and walk, on Sunday, October 18 at Auditorium Shores. Ahead of its 30th anniversary next year, Livestrong is inviting runners, walkers, survivors, caregivers and families to come together along Lady Bird Lake to celebrate survivorship, honor those lost to cancer and raise $100,000 for the services that help survivors navigate life after a diagnosis. 

“One in three of us will hear the words ‘you have cancer’ in our lifetime. This isn’t just another race on the calendar. It’s personal for almost every Austin family,” said Suzanne Stone, President and CEO of Livestrong. “Run for the Roses is about honoring everyone impacted by cancer, whoever you’re running for and wherever they are on their journey. When survivors receive their yellow rose at the finish line, it’s a reminder that no one goes through this alone.” 

The morning brings together everyone cancer touches. Serious runners will chase a personal best while families walk with strollers and colleagues are invited to take on the course as corporate teams. Loved ones will run in honor of the survivors in their lives and in memory of those they have lost. Every survivor who registers receives a special bib number so they can find and celebrate one another on the course. 

The yellow rose has been part of Livestrong’s finish line since the organization’s early days. For survivors, it celebrates another milestone after diagnosis and reflects Livestrong’s commitment to standing with survivors in its hometown. 

Survivors, whether newly diagnosed or years beyond treatment, and caregivers will also find a community that understands what they are going through. On-site cancer booths will connect attendees with Livestrong’s mission, along with information on exercise oncology and the role physical activity plays in recovery and quality of life. 

Livestrong, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the daily lives of cancer survivors, helped establish survivorship as a formal field of cancer care and focuses on the practical, financial and emotional challenges people face, with programs ranging from fertility preservation support to Ellis, an AI-powered cancer survivorship companion. 

Registration for the 5K and 10K starts at $50, with run and walk options at each distance and a virtual option for those who want to take part from anywhere. Participants are encouraged to form teams and fundraise, and volunteers are needed on race day. To register, volunteer or donate, visit impact.livestrong.org/event/run4theroses.

Local Media Opportunities

• When: Sunday, October 18, 2026. Races begin at 8:00am CT. Survivors receive yellow roses at the finish line beginning around 8:20am CT. 

• Where: Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 

• Visuals: Survivors receiving yellow roses at the finish line; survivors on course; teams running in honor and memory of loved ones; families along Lady Bird Lake; JB and Sandy with their teams 

• Spokespeople available: Suzanne Stone, President and CEO, Livestrong; cancer survivors and caregivers participating in the event. 

Media Contact

Sarah Jane Farrell, Senior Marketing Manager, Livestrong
(512) 893-7934 | sarahjane.farrell@livestrong.org

About Livestrong

Founded in 1997, Livestrong has supported more than 10 million people living with, through, and beyond cancer – providing the trusted information, programs, and community that help survivors navigate every stage of the journey. Livestrong helped establish survivorship as a formal field of study in cancer care and continues to expand access to the practical and emotional support that cancer survivors and their families deserve. Because surviving is just the beginning. To learn more or to donate, visit livestrong.org.