NEW YORK– The Project Purple running group is dedicated to raising awareness and increasing research into pancreatic cancer.

“Our runners are simply incredible,” said Dino Verrelli, founder of Project Purple. “Survivors ran for us. People whose loved ones fought ran for us. People who lost loved ones.”

Project Purple team member Phoebe Sander said this year’s New York City Marathon was an emotional experience for her. She became involved with Project Purple because her aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.

“It’s definitely been very difficult, but I have to say my aunt is one of the most positive people in my entire life,” she said.

Sander’s father, Norbert Sander, was also a big inspiration for her to participate in the event. Norbert Sander won the New York City Marathon in 1974 and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. He underwent six months of chemotherapy and received a sort of six-month checkup, but was rediagnosed with cancer stage four metastatic pancreas in March 2010.

“It’s very personal for me to lose my father,” Sander added.

Project Purple is at the forefront of pancreatic cancer research. They actively participated in the creation and helped establish screening clinics and high-risk surveillance programs around the world. And a lot of their funding comes from their marathon teams.

“It feels so good to be a part of it with the research money that Project Purple gives for research,” Sander noted. “My own fundraising goal and also seeing the immense amount of money that all the other Project Purple runners are raising,”