Jaclyn Kawka’s mother, Linda, had been feeling ill off and on for about a year before she eventually found herself in her local emergency room. It was then that doctors discovered her cancer in the area of her bile duct and pancreas. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2022, Linda passed away just a week after that visit to the emergency room. Her decline was rapid and unexpected, leaving Jaclyn and her sister stunned by the loss of their mother.
Already an avid runner and a mother of two young children, Jaclyn relied on running as a way to cope with the devastating loss of her mother. While juggling her job as an employment lawyer and her responsibilities as a mother, she made the decision to run the Boston Marathon in honor of her late mother this year. She partnered with the Project Purple Boston Marathon team and began fundraising for the disease that took her mother’s life.
Although 2024 was not Jackie’s first Boston Marathon, this particular training cycle held special meaning for her. After the marathon, she reflected on her experience running with Project Purple. Due to the heat on race day, she had to visit the medical tent, but she pushed through, ultimately finishing the race because she wanted to do it in honor of her mom. Jackie successfully completed the marathon and in this interview, she reflects on all of the emotions she felt as she crossed the finish line in her mother’s memory.
Thank you Jackie, for raising over $30,000 for our mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, You are Project Purple.
If you’d like to join Project Purple for a race or other event, visit our events page!
For a written story about Jackie and her mom, read this article.
