The 33rd annual Race Against Cancer begins Sunday at 3 p.m. at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville. The event moves from its longtime home at World's Fair Park to a downtown course through the historic Old City. A portion of this year's proceeds will help establish a permanent endowment honoring longtime WVLT sports director Rick Russo, an advocate for Covenant Health's Thompson Cancer Survival Center.
According to WVLT, the new venue puts the race squarely in the heart of downtown, with the course tracing through the Old City before finishing at the ballpark. Per the Thompson Cancer Survival Center Race Against Cancer website, the 2026 start line sits at the first-base entrance of Covenant Health Park, at the intersection of East Jackson Avenue and Stadium Way, and the field is open to runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes who will have 90 minutes to finish.
A New Tribute for a Familiar Face
Russo has been a fixture at WVLT since 1987, according to the station's sister publication, Knoxville News Sentinel. He has also long advocated for the Thompson Cancer Survival Center. Organizers say a portion of this year's proceeds will go toward establishing a permanent endowment in his name.
Covenant Health's Chip Bryant described the new venue as a strong fit for the race, telling WVLT, “Having that central location is going to be fabulous.”
Where the Money Goes
According to WVLT, race proceeds fund two core programs at Thompson Cancer Survival Center: the Nurse Navigator Program and the Patient Financial Assistance Program, which is designed for patients who can't work while undergoing care but still face mounting bills at home. Both are aimed at helping East Tennessee cancer patients get through treatment.
Bryant told WVLT that the assistance program helps patients manage household bills when treatment keeps them from working, so they can focus on recovery.
Published fundraising totals differ. The race's own website says the event has raised more than $8 million, crediting the money with providing life-saving screenings and treatment to medically underserved neighbors. Covenant Health reports that the Race Against Cancer has raised more than $7.4 million for cancer education and care in East Tennessee since the race began 29 years ago, and says thousands of medically underserved individuals have received screenings and cancer care as a result.
Cancer rates in the region
Historical data offer context for the race's local focus. A Knox County Health Department report put the county's average age-adjusted rate of new cancer cases at 464.9 per 100,000 population from 2010 through 2014. A Tennessee Department of Health report covering the same period found that the East region had the state's highest overall cancer incidence rate among regions, while the Northwest region had the highest overall cancer mortality rate. The reports provide regional and county context, but do not give a direct county-to-state comparison.
Emcee Duties and How to Join In
WVLT's Harry Sullivan will emcee Sunday's festivities at the park, keeping with the station's longstanding ties to the event. Community members who want to take part can still register, donate or sponsor a participant through raceagainstcancer.org or Covenant Health's website, per details shared in the station's report.
With a new course, a new start line and a tribute built around one of East Tennessee's most familiar sports voices, this year's Race Against Cancer carries a different shape than its previous 32 editions — even as its purpose, funding cancer care close to home, stays the same.
