FORT SMITH -- Miss America 2024 Madison Marsh is returning to her hometown to host a race and fall festival aimed at raising money for pancreatic cancer research and awareness efforts.

The event -- Whitney's Race -- will be at the U.S. Marshals Museum and will start at 11 a.m. Saturday. Funds from the event will go to the Whitney Marsh Foundation for local education and equipment purchases, according to the event's website. The foundation is designed to educate the public on pancreatic cancer and raise funding for research and treatment efforts.

This will be the event's fourth annual race. This year's theme is "Purple Reign" as runners will race like royalty, according to the event's Instagram. Runners had the option to pick between a 5K or 10K course.

There will be a "Reign Festival" after the race, at which Madison Marsh will have a meet and greet. The festival will include local business vendors, live music, a kids' costume competition, and food and drinks.

Whitney Marsh, Madison's mother, died from pancreatic cancer in 2018 at the age of 41. The Marsh family started the Whitney Marsh Foundation to raise awareness and research funds for early detection in her honor. Madison became the foundation co-founder and president.

Madison Marsh, 23, became Miss America on Jan. 14 after serving as Miss Colorado 2023. Marsh also serves in the military. She is a second lieutenant in the Air Force and the first active duty officer to compete in the Miss America pageant.

Marsh, despite living in and representing Colorado in the pageant, is originally from Fort Smith. After graduating from Southside High School, she attended the Air Force Academy where she earned a degree in physics. She is now pursuing a master's degree in public policy at Harvard University.