CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) Charlottesville will host its annual Women’s Four Miler Race on August 30 to support the UVA Breast Cancer Center and registration is now open.

This is the 43rd annual race and is now the largest women’s-only race in Virginia and is organized and held by Foxfield and the Charlottesville Track Club.

The race is not only open to runners but also open to hundreds of local sponsors and volunteers to help to make the event possible.

“The buzz of excitement is evident from the moment you enter Foxfield,” Race Director Jaime Kurtz told Cville Right Now.

Many racers and vendors are returners who have remained loyal to the Four Miler throughout the years.

“One of my favorite things about the event is its consistency: for many locals, it’s a Labor Day weekend tradition,” said Kurtz. “We’ve had the same steadfast crew of core volunteers for years as well.”

One such returner is Ann Mazur Robb who has not only raced in the Women’s Four Miler for over ten years but is now on her second year as a vendor for the race.

Mazur Robb owns Relay Active, a women’s active wear brand, in Charlottesville.

“The best part about being a small business owner in a town like Charlottesville is having a sense of community and contributing back to that community in an event like this is so special,” Mazur Robb told Cville Right Now.

Racers will be given the opportunity to join in person or virtually for the race and the registration fee varies between $40 before July 30 and $50 after that.

The Four Miler aims to raise $10,000 for the UVA Breast Cancer Center.

“While all registration proceeds benefit the Breast Care Center, participants are also encouraged to fundraise on their own,” Kurtz said. “In addition, we have the support of many local sponsors who also contribute generously.”

Every year, event organizers work to make the four-mile race more accessible.

This year, the race brought back the Women in Motion Physical Therapy and Wellness led training program. The volunteer-led program is scheduled to meet at Charlottesville High School on seven consecutive Saturdays starting on July 12. Sessions include volunteers designing a personalized training program for runners and sharing information regarding women’s health issues.

The in-person sessions sold out quickly, but a virtual version of the program is still available, according to the event’s website.

“Altogether it doesn’t matter if you’re first or last to cross the finish line, all that matters is that everyone is so supportive of each other and this cause,” Mazur Robb said.

Since the race’s inception in 1983, runners and walkers have come together to raise over 4.2 million dollars for the UVA Breast Cancer Center.

The donations are directed toward the Center’s patients for them to receive access to screenings, benefit from the latest research, and experience personalized medical care.

“You see groups and teams gathered in their matching shirts, often running in honor of someone who is or has battled breast cancer,” Kurtz said.

As excitement starts to build for the upcoming race, Kurtz said everyone who runs in the race should feel a sense of accomplishment and local pride.

“I hope everyone out there takes a moment to acknowledge their achievement as they cross the finish line,” Kurtz said. “I also hope they feel the sense of community that makes this event so special. And if I could put this wish out into the universe, cool, dry weather would be nice too.”

Mazur Robb said it is evident how much the event means to the participants.

“You can see on race day just how powerful and meaningful it is to so many people, which to me makes the Women’s Four Miler the number one race in our community,” Mazur Robb said.