Thousands turn Cork, Kilkenny & Dublin pink as Breast Cancer Ireland’s Very Pink Run 2026 raises almost €900,000 in vital funds for breast cancer research
Almost 13,000 runners, walkers and families from all over Ireland came together in Leopardstown in Dublin, in Castle Park in Kilkenny and on the grounds of MTU Cork over two weekends to make Breast Cancer Ireland’s Very Pink Run 2026 one of the biggest, most inclusive and most feel-good fundraising events of the year, whilst raising almost €900,000 in vital funds for breast cancer research.
The annual event, proudly supported for the fourth consecutive year by title sponsor Very.ie, has now raised (since its inception) over €8.9 million, with every euro raised helping Breast Cancer Ireland fund pioneering research, clinical advancement, education and early detection programmes and investment in the next generation of breast cancer research talent.
From casual strollers and families to seasoned runners, colleagues, friends and breast cancer survivors, the Very Pink Run once again demonstrated its unique ability to bring people together for a common cause – helping to create a future where breast cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease.
This year’s Very Pink Tribe of ambassadors, including RTÉ’s Maura Derrane, Newstalk’s Dr Ciara Kelly, Dancing with the Stars judge Karen Byrne and singer Jake Carter, Hazel Chu, Jennifer Wrynne, James Patrice, Elaine Crowley, Chris Connolly, Terrie McEvoy, and Cork Ambassadors Lesley Giltinan and Dr Monica Oikeh alongside many more, helped inspire participants and raise awareness of the importance of breast health and early detection.
Since its inception, the Very Pink Run has become a truly global movement, with more than 123,000 people now having taken part across 40 countries to date.
Reflecting on the success of this year’s event, Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland, said:
“What an incredible Very Pink Run it has been. Once again, Ireland has shown just how powerful community, kindness and collective action can be. From Dublin to Kilkenny and Cork and everywhere in between, and from families taking part together to breast cancer survivors, friends, colleagues and supporters joining us virtually, the sea of pink has been truly extraordinary.
The Very Pink Run is so much more than a run. It is a celebration of life, a show of solidarity for everyone affected by breast cancer and, critically, a very important fundraising event which enables us to continue investing in the research, innovation, education and early detection programmes that are helping to change the future of breast cancer.
Every single person who registered, raised sponsorship, donated, volunteered, cheered from the sidelines or simply shared our message has played a part in making this year’s event such a phenomenal success. We are incredibly grateful to every member of our Very Pink Tribe and to the thousands of people who showed up and stepped out for Breast Cancer Ireland.”
Aisling continued:
“I would like to extend a very special thank you to our longstanding title sponsor Very.ie, who have supported the Very Pink Run for four years now, alongside our Silver Tier sponsors Cornmarket, Glanbia, Flynn O’Driscoll and Ohshima. Their continued commitment enables us to maximise the impact of this event and reinvest the funds raised directly into our vital work.
The need for our work has never been greater. With approximately 3,700 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year, there is still so much to do. The extraordinary generosity shown during this year’s Very Pink Run will help us continue our mission to transform breast cancer from sometimes fatal to treatable for all.”
Henry Dummer, CEO of Very.ie, said:
“The Very Pink Run 2026 has once again exceeded all expectations, and we are incredibly proud to have played our part as title sponsor for a fourth consecutive year. Seeing thousands of people across Ireland come together, proudly wearing pink and supporting Breast Cancer Ireland, has been incredibly inspiring.
What makes the Very Pink Run so special is that everyone can be part of it. Whether you are running 10k, walking 5k with your children, taking part with colleagues or simply getting involved in your local community, every person contributes to something much bigger than themselves. The atmosphere across all three events was fantastic, and the incredible energy and positivity of the participants was infectious.
At Very.ie, we are hugely proud of our relationship with Breast Cancer Ireland and the impact that the Very Pink Run has made over the past four years. We know that the funds raised through this event are helping to support vital research and education programmes, and are delighted to see the Very Pink Run continue to grow into such an important national event.”
For more information on this event and to view our gallery, please see below:
