On April 26th, 2026, Daniela Lang will line up at the start of the London Marathon with the Thames shimmering beside her, Tower Bridge looming overhead, Big Ben ringing in the distance, and the streets of Westminster alive with cheering crowds all around her.
More than just the energy of London, she will carry with her the memory of her father, Bruno, who passed from pancreatic cancer in 2020. Every step will be a tribute to his life, his love of running, the unwavering encouragement he gave her to chase her own goals, and a commitment to raising awareness for pancreatic cancer.
Running in His Footsteps
Daniela’s connection to running is inseparable from her bond with her father. Though she did not grow up an avid runner and described herself as fairly unathletic in her youth, that changed when she moved to New York City in her early 20s. Living just a block from Central Park made it feel like the perfect time to start.
But this choice was not a random one—it was deeply rooted in her father Bruno’s influence and lifelong passion for running. He was always a runner, and for as long as Daniela can remember, she and her family would watch him run from the sidelines, cheering him on at races, leading to her absorbing his dedication to the sport. Those moments left a lasting impression, and running became a way to connect with her father even further.
When Daniela began her running journey, she set a distinct goal: to challenge herself and eventually take on the World Marathon Majors. She started locally, but the ambition was clear, and her father’s support was unwavering throughout every stage. But this wasn’t a journey she would take on her own. If Daniela was chasing this dream, her dad would be running every step with her.
They began checking races off the list together. Daniela recalls the early days vividly: when she told her dad she wanted to try a half-marathon, Bruno immediately said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’ and ran alongside her. That encouragement never wavered. Later, when she set her sights on a full marathon, others around her questioned if she could really do it, but her dad was always her biggest supporter. ‘You can do it. You can absolutely do it; there’s no doubt in my mind,’ he would tell her.
They conquered some of running’s most celebrated courses together. Daniela and Bruno ran both the Chicago and Boston Marathons side by side, and when Daniela ran her first New York City Marathon, though Bruno wasn’t officially registered, he ran the final 13 miles alongside her, offering encouragement and steady support through the most challenging stretch of the course.
Though her father won’t be physically beside her in London, Daniela draws strength from the countless memories of them running together and knows he will be there in spirit. “This one is just super special because I’m continuing on the journey, and I know if he was here, he would be running alongside me in London,” she reflects.
For Daniela, those miles together were never just about running—they were about her father’s support, guidance, and the remarkable person he was.
Remembering Bruno: A Life of Drive and Determination
Bruno, Daniela’s father, was “a very Italian man,” she recalls with a laugh. He was lean from all the running he did, but it was his character that left the strongest impression—deeply involved, endlessly supportive, and a man whose values and determination shaped everyone around him.
He was always present in Daniela’s life, encouraging hard work and perseverance. ‘If there’s something you really want, you can achieve it. It’s all about determination and what you put into it,’ he often told his children. And Bruno embodied that message. He grew up in a small town in Italy and moved to the United States in the 1970s with little money and knowledge of the English language, determined to build a better life.
Daniela reflects on her father’s unwavering drive, the trait she loved most about him: “When I think about all the things he accomplished, he was such a determined person. He didn’t settle for less than what he wanted, and what he put into it—whether for himself, the family, or even his running. He gave everything.”
And, as a grandfather, Bruno’s large heart was clear. With six grandchildren, Daniela recalls, “he had such a soft and big heart for them.” Though he wasn’t a very emotional man, he always made his love for his children clear. And, with his grandchildren, “they could say or do anything, and he would give them the world,” showing the same love and care that defined him throughout his life.
Bruno’s determination and resilience were tested in the most difficult way when he faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Even weeks before, he ran races with strength and joy. “The weekend of Halloween, he ran a half marathon with me and did amazing—I couldn’t keep up. Two weeks later, we did his favorite hometown race. The gun went off, and he just took off. That was the perfect last race,” Daniela shares.
His symptoms began subtly; he started losing weight and experiencing abdominal pain, and initial tests revealed unusually high glucose levels. Though he was otherwise healthy, these early warning signs were not immediately recognized as serious. Months later, after persistent symptoms and further testing, the diagnosis came: Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, already spread to his stomach, making surgery impossible.
Despite the grim prognosis, Bruno faced the disease with the same steadfast resolve that had been the hallmark of his life. Chemotherapy kept the disease at bay for several months, but eventually it progressed. The family explored every option, including clinical trials, but none were possible.
On December 4th, 2020, Bruno passed away, just over a year after his diagnosis. Daniela reflects on his characteristic determination, recalling that early in his prognosis, his oncologist had estimated a typical survival of around twelve months.
“I like to think my dad probably said to himself, ‘I’m gonna beat those odds,’ and he did, slightly,” passing just over twelve months after his diagnosis—a reflection of his resilience and unwavering drive, and of the deep legacy of love and perseverance he left behind.
Running for a Cause: Finding Project Purple
For Daniela, running has always been more than a physical challenge; it’s a way to process grief, reconnect with her father, and transform loss into purpose. “Now when I run, I kind of feel a bit of calmness,” she reflects. “It’s the time when I feel closest to him. I can still hear him giving me those tips and tricks—‘relax your arms, relax your shoulders, take it easy if you need to, push harder.’”
The months following Bruno’s diagnosis were especially challenging. “I feel like my whole world changed. And then the world shut down because it was COVID, which made it even harder,” Daniela recalls. She worried constantly about bringing the virus into her father’s home while caring for her young children.
Still, her family rallied: her sister flew home from California when she could, her brother was nearby, and her husband took on full responsibility for the kids so she could spend as much time as possible with her father. Even from a distance, they leaned on one another, drawing strength from shared hope and love.
It was in the midst of this struggle that Daniela first began searching for ways to support her father. “As soon as my dad was diagnosed, I dove into action and tried to do as much research as I could,” she says. “I was like, ‘We’re gonna uncover every rock, stone, whatever we need to do to get him the best treatment.’” She threw herself into learning everything she could and raising awareness in any way possible.
And, after a brief pause from marathon running, Daniela felt ready to connect her passion for the sport with her ongoing commitment to pancreatic cancer advocacy. To bridge that gap she was missing, she remembers thinking to herself, “‘If I want to get into running for a charity, it needs to be something I’m super passionate about,’ and pancreatic cancer and my dad’s story—it was so important to me.”
For years, she’d thought about completing the remaining World Marathon Majors for a pancreatic cancer charity. When she found Project Purple after browsing the London Marathon website, it felt like serendipity. “It was literally one of the first charities that came up. My jaw dropped,” she says. It felt destined, as if the opportunity had been set before her. “When I found it, I can’t explain it. It almost felt like my dad just put it there in front of me. It was like the sky opened up, and the stars and moons aligned. This couldn’t be more perfect.”
Daniela chose to take on this specific journey, the London Marathon, as her next challenge, viewing it as both a new chapter in her running journey and a way to deepen her advocacy. “I’ve already run the U.S. World Majors, and I’d like to do Boston again, but I’m in my 40s—I can’t do marathons forever. If I’m going to do another, I want it to be one I haven’t run before,” she explains. “I’m just excited to pair running with pancreatic cancer fundraising and awareness.” London offers the perfect opportunity to continue running while honoring her father and supporting Project Purple.
Race Day and the Road to London
As the London Marathon approaches, Daniela reflects on what motivates her through training and what she hopes the experience will mean. “I think it’s again knowing the cause and knowing what I’m running for, and there are people that can’t run—and my dad, if he were here today, he would be doing it. That definitely motivates me,” she says.
Her children are another source of inspiration. Her boys, ages 10 and 8, have been encouraging her every step of the way. “If I’ve done a run, they ask me, ‘How did it go? How far did you run?’” Her oldest is even starting to run short distances. This race is about showing them that pursuing something meaningful takes dedication.
Crossing the finish line in London, Daniela anticipates, will be an emotional moment. “I will probably feel excited that it’s done, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I just break down in tears once I cross the finish line. It will be emotional in a good, exciting way,” she says.
Knowing her family, especially her children, will be there to cheer her on is a key motivator. Daniela shares, “Especially if I know I’m going to spot them wherever we decide to have them watch, that will be a big thing to motivate me to keep going, especially knowing that I’ll see them at the end.”
Reflecting on her father’s sudden diagnosis underscores the urgency of early detection. “It’s just important for people to realize how quickly it can advance,” she says. “We can’t test everyone, but think about cancers where screening exists, like mammograms or colonoscopies—if there were tests for pancreatic cancer, think of how many lives we could save.”
Thus, running in London is more than completing a marathon; it’s a tribute to her father and a platform for advocacy. “I felt like this was a really good way for me to run in his memory and honor something we shared,” Daniela says. “This just felt right.”
To support Daniela’s run in honor of Bruno and to help raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, donate to her fundraising page here.
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
