For the second year in a row, Project Purple is proud to be an official charity partner of the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious. After adding the historic event to our lineup last year, we’re excited to continue this new tradition and see what this year’s team will accomplish. These runners aren’t just competing; they’re raising awareness and funds to fight pancreatic cancer. With every step, they’re supporting patients and funding critical research.
The first Boston Marathon was held in 1897. Starting in Hopkinton, the course winds its way through cities and towns like Framingham, Natick, and Wellesley. Runners will have to face Newton’s infamous Heartbreak Hill, situated between the 20- and 21-mile markers. And then, it’s all downhill from there, quite literally. After conquering Heartbreak Hill, runners have a downhill stretch between them and the finish line.
These runners have come a long way from the day they were accepted to join our team to race day, and we’re honored to help share their stories.
Meet the Team
Brooke Stanford
Brooke’s relationship with running began passively – she grew up playing soccer, and naturally came with it. But it wasn’t until the latter part of her college career that she truly fell in love with the sport. Now, she’s running the Boston Marathon in memory of her mother, Andrea, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in August 2021. Andrea was diagnosed in January 2020, and though they had hoped the cancer was behind them, it returned the following year.
For Brooke, running this marathon is not only a way to honor her mother’s memory, but it’s also about taking action in the fight against pancreatic cancer. “This means everything to me,” says Brooke. “Since my mom passed, I’ve been looking for something to do to feel connected to her and make a difference.” The Boston Marathon also serves as a farewell to the city she has called home for the last four years, a city where she found healing.
To learn more about Brooke’s journey, visit our blog. If you’d like to support her fundraising efforts, click here to donate.
Lauren Brown
Lauren’s life was forever changed on March 4, 2024, when her mother, Cathy, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was a shock to Lauren and her family – her mother’s cancer had gone undetected for so long that by the time it was discovered, it had reached an advanced stage. Cathy sadly passed away just nine weeks after the diagnosis on Mother’s Day.
Before her diagnosis, Cathy had proudly cheered her on at the finish line of the 2023 Boston Marathon. Now, Lauren is ready to cross that finish line again to honor the strongest woman she knows. “She was, and still is, the strongest woman I know,” says Lauren. “She fought this disease with everything she had, and she always managed to find the light in the most challenging situations.” Her mother’s strength inspires Lauren as she trains for the marathon; she is keeping her memory alive by raising funds to fight pancreatic cancer.
To support Lauren’s run, visit her fundraising page.
Mary Beth Bozogian
Mary Beth’s relationship with running started not with a love for the sport, but with watching her dad pick it up later in life. He began running in his late fifties, and over the years, they ran together, progressing from 5Ks to half marathons and eventually full marathons. Her father’s health took a sudden turn when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis that came after unexpected weight loss, stomach issues, and other concerning symptoms. Despite the challenges, he remains resilient. “He keeps his spirit up, and he’s defying the odds in a lot of ways,” Mary Beth says. To learn more about Mary Beth’s story, visit our blog.
Now, Mary Beth is preparing to run the Boston Marathon, motivated by her father’s fighting spirit. She’s determined to finish the marathon in his honor, knowing that he will be proudly rooting for her as she crosses the Boylston Street finish line. This race is more than just a physical challenge for Mary Beth – it’s a celebration of her father’s strength, a reminder that the fight isn’t over.
To support Mary Beth as she takes on Boston, visit her page.
Sheng Huang
Fighting pancreatic cancer has become a lifelong mission for Sheng. After Sherill, one of his co-workers and close friends, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Sheng was searching for a way to honor their friendship and her ongoing battle. As a lover of challenges, Sheng had picked up running years prior. With a passion for running and love for his friend, Sheng decided to run the 2024 London Marathon with Project Purple.
He’s taking his determination to fight pancreatic cancer to the streets of Boston. Though training for a marathon is difficult, requiring long, tiring runs, he knows it’s nothing compared to the battle pancreatic cancer patients and their loved ones face. “I’m running this marathon so I can raise awareness for pancreatic cancer,” says Sheng. “Join me and Project Purple in this long marathon to fight, to eradicate pancreatic cancer.”
To support Sheng’s run, visit his fundraising page.
Emma Holliday
Emma is an oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, and every day she sees firsthand the impact that pancreatic cancer has on both patients and their loved ones. As a medical professional, Emma understands the limitations of current treatments. She’s running the 2025 Boston Marathon to raise critical funds for research, with the goal of finding more effective treatment options and ultimately a cure. “For many patients, the ‘standard of care’ treatment options are simply not good enough. We need to do better to improve the lives of folks with this devastating disease,” Emma says.
Her unique perspective as a doctor fuels her determination to make a difference. Emma also knows what it’s like to lose a loved one to cancer. She will honor her late friend and colleague, Dr. Cullen Taniguchi, who had a passion for advancing treatment options and finding a cure. “One of my favorite memories of Cullen is that every November he would dye his hair purple to raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. I can’t wait to cross the finish line in Boston with purple hair in honor of Cullen,” she says. Every step she takes is a step toward a future without pancreatic cancer.
To support Emma, visit her fundraising page.
Patrick Bicknell
Although Patrick had to withdraw from running the marathon due to injury, his dedication to the cause remains unwavering. Patrick’s mother-in-law, Barbara, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in July 2023. “Our family was optimistic and ready to fight,” says Patrick.
Though they initially saw results with intense chemotherapy treatments, test results would later show that they needed to take another approach. Barbara took part in a clinical trial, but it soon became clear that she was no longer responding to treatment. Eventually, at her request, she transitioned to Kaplan House for hospice care, where she herself had been a volunteer for years. After a year-long battle, Barbara passed away in August 2024.
Her battle with pancreatic cancer reinforced the importance of early detection, and Patrick is committed to raising awareness about the disease and supporting research for better treatment options. “Early detection of pancreatic cancer is critical to success in treatment, and as difficult as this loss has been for us, it is far more challenging for families without the same resources,” he says. Through his fundraising efforts, Patrick honors Barbara’s fighting and generous spirit.
Patrick sees Barbara’s empathy and compassion reflected in Project Purple’s endurance teams, as Patrick says they are “bringing support, hope, and compassion to those affected by this disease.”
To support Patrick, visit his fundraising page.
Thank You
We are incredibly grateful for each member of Project Purple’s 2025 Boston Marathon team. Their stories, dedication, and commitment to raising funds for patient support and research will undoubtedly inspire all who follow their journeys. We can’t wait to cheer them on as they race toward a world without pancreatic cancer.
At the time of writing this article, this team of 6 runners has raised over $190,000 and counting!
Join the Project Purple Cheer Zone
Join us at our cheer zone at the top of Newton’s Heartbreak Hill! One of the best ways you can show support is by helping us cheer on our runners. Have questions about our cheer zone? Contact us here.
Inspired to join a team and make a difference? Check out our events page!
