Project Purple is excited to kick off the 2024 endurance running season with our first race of the year on March 17, the United Airlines New York City Half Marathon. Last year, our Project Purple run team was able to raise over $120,000 for pancreatic cancer research and patient financial aid. We hope that this year, we can raise even more for pancreatic cancer research as well as patients and families in need.
Running with the Project Purple Community
Running the New York City Half means running alongside our Project Purple community members, all of whom are dedicated to the fight against pancreatic cancer. Throughout the weekend, we host several experiences for runners and their families to connect with others who have been touched by this disease.
Join Us On Our Shake Out Run
We offer runners the opportunity to start the weekend off on the right foot with a Shake Out Run. Our Project Purple run team will gather at 8:30 am on the Saturday before the race for a quick 3.2-mile run at Columbus Circle by Central Park. It’s a great chance for runners to stretch their legs and meet some of their fellow team members before the big race.
Meet and Greet With the Team
That afternoon, Project Purple is hosting a meet and greet! We encourage all our runners and their families to come and say hi to the team and our Project Purple staff. At the meet and greet, runners will receive their welcome bag, along with any incentives runners may have earned through their fundraising efforts. New to this year’s event, Project Purple has organized “Singlet Decoration” and “Polaroid Selfie” stations to add to the fun! It’s one of the best nights for us, as we get to meet all the people who have worked so hard to help us in our mission for a world without pancreatic cancer.
Amazing NYC Course
On race day, runners will have the opportunity to experience NYC like never before. The course winds through some of the most well-known streets in New York City. Runners will get to race across the Manhattan Bridge, through Grand Army Plaza, and even alongside the billboards of Time Square. Along the course, you will get to see beautiful landmarks such as the Chrysler Building, the New York Public Library, and Carnegie Hall, along with many other famous NYC attractions.
Making a Difference on the Sidelines At Our Cheer Zones!
Just because you may not be running the race doesn’t mean you can’t still make a difference. One of the best ways you can support our Project Purple community is by helping us cheer on our runners. Our cheer zones are an amazing experience for not only our runners but for all our supporters as well.
We treat our cheer zones like one massive party! With music and everyone decked out in their Project Purple finest, it’s like diving into a sea of purple. We will also have massive flags, megaphones, and cowbells for our cheer squad to use to help cheer on our team.
We will set up our cheer zone on 42nd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue on the Northside. We encourage everyone to stop by and help support our runners!
For more information on the New York City Half Marathon team – including an interest form for next year’s team – please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/events/united-airlines-nyc-half-marathon/. Thank you to all our runners, and we can’t wait to see you cross the finish line in NYC! If you are interested in helping out our team, please click here to donate!
