Run Like a Mann 5K returns Oct. 10 to support Laurens County cancer patients
August 31, 2026
The Laurens County Cancer Association will hold its 16th annual Run Like a Mann 5K Run and Walk on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the association’s office at 1337 Medical Ridge Road in Clinton.
The race runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Registration is $30. High school and college students may register for $15 using the code STUDENT, and children 14 and younger participate free. Online registration closes Oct. 8 at 11:59 p.m.
All proceeds go toward the association’s fuel assistance program, which helps cancer patients in Laurens County cover the cost of getting to treatment.
Organizers are encouraging participants to wear pink or dark blue, or any color tied to the cancer journey of someone they love. Every ribbon carries a story, they said, and every color is a reminder that no one faces the diagnosis alone. The morning is meant to honor those who have died, celebrate survivors and raise awareness across the county.
“Whether someone runs it, walks it or stands on the sidelines cheering, they are part of what makes this race work,” said Anna Miller, executive director of the Laurens County Cancer Association. “Every dollar raised on that Saturday morning goes straight to a neighbor in Laurens County who is driving back and forth to treatment.”
The race is held in memory of Tim Mann, a Laurens County man diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer whose friends organized the first 5K on his behalf. That effort grew into the organization now known as the Laurens County Cancer Association, which became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2012.
The need the race addresses has not changed. There are no cancer treatment facilities in Laurens County, so patients must travel to Greenwood, Greenville, Charleston and in some cases out of state. Depending on the diagnosis, those trips can come as often as five days a week or as infrequently as once a month, and the mileage adds up quickly for families already stretched thin.
The association operates independently of any national or state cancer organization. It is funded through its own fundraising, including the annual 5K, along with support from Laurens County businesses, foundations and health care partners such as Prisma Health and Self Regional, plus contributions from local residents, clubs and churches.
The office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be reached at 864-358-7376 or by email at [email protected].
Registration is open at https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Clinton/RunLikeaMann5kRunandWalk.
