On January 25th, 2026, Hannah Anderson will be standing at the starting line of the Miami Half-Marathon, surrounded by warm coastal air, bright winter sun, and thousands of runners each carrying their own stories. It will be Hannah’s first-ever race, a milestone she never imagined reaching, especially as a new mother of a one-year-old still navigating grief.
But this run is far more than a personal challenge. Every step she takes will honor her father, David Hamilton, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in August 2025, and will serve as a platform to raise awareness and support for Project Purple, helping others impacted by this aggressive disease.
A Runner is Born
Hannah never considered herself a runner. Growing up in Mississippi, she enjoyed being active—working out and spending time outdoors—but running was never part of her routine. That perspective shifted in the spring of 2025, when her father’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis turned her world upside down.
Faced with a disease that moved faster than anyone expected, Hannah felt a profound loss of control. “You can be there for them, but that’s all you can really do,” she remembers. “So I wanted to feel like I was doing something to make a difference.” By July, as her father’s illness progressed, Hannah realized she needed an outlet to cope with this loss of control: something tangible that could help her channel her emotions and feel like she was making a difference.
That’s when she discovered Project Purple, an organization devoted to pancreatic cancer advocacy, fundraising, and community support. Through the charity, she found a way to turn her energy into action, honoring her father while also contributing meaningfully to others affected by this devastating disease: running a race.
Miami’s half-marathon emerged as the most feasible option, close enough to her home to make logistics manageable, yet demanding enough to push her limits. She describes the half-marathon as a way of “dipping her toes” into the running world, with the thought that maybe one day she would attempt a full marathon.
For Hannah, signing up for the race was never just about athletic achievement. It was a purposeful act, a way to navigate grief and uncertainty while celebrating the love she had for her father. And as she contemplated this first step into long-distance running, she began to reflect more deeply on the man who had inspired her: her dad, David Hamilton, whose courage, kindness, and love had left a lasting impact on her life and countless others.
A Life of Quiet Strength
David Hamilton was a simple man, in the best way possible. He didn’t need much to keep him satisfied and happy; he was defined by his gentleness, his kindness, and his deep devotion to his family.
A lifelong outdoorsman, David found joy in simple pleasures, especially in retirement: fishing by the river, traveling to new places, and watching the birds that fascinated him. He and Hannah bonded over their love of birds, often identifying different species and sharing small moments of discovery together. Even in these quiet hobbies, David’s presence was calming and intentional, a reminder of how he valued the simple things in life.
When Hannah thinks about her dad, it is these qualities that stand out most to her. “He was such a gentle, kind, loving person,” she remembers. “He never had anything negative to say.” This constant positivity was remarkable, especially given the challenges he faced during his pancreatic cancer journey.
After experiencing intense bowel problems for a couple of weeks, David went to his doctor for blood work, which revealed that he had Stage 3 pancreatic cancer. By May, doctors discovered that the cancer had metastasized to his liver, confirming it was an aggressive and fast-moving form of the disease.
David began two types of chemotherapy in an attempt to slow the disease, but the treatments were unable to stop the cancer from spreading. By July, he made the deeply personal choice to stop chemotherapy, deciding to spend his final days surrounded by loved ones and focused on comfort. His focus shifted entirely to being with family, especially embracing his new role as a grandfather. He had just become “Pops” with the birth of his first grandchild, David, and “he lived for that.” Hannah recalls, “He was obsessed with my little boy, who my husband and I actually named after him.”
In the unfortunately short time between his diagnosis and his passing in August 2025, Hannah found the inspiration to run and was able to share her plan with her dad, the very person she was running for. Though he wasn’t very responsive and couldn’t verbally communicate much in hospice, she felt he could hear her. Even without acknowledgement, sharing that intention with him was deeply meaningful.
Hannah often reflects on her father’s remarkable composure during his illness. “He had so many reasons to complain about his situation, and I never once heard a complaint come out of his mouth about what he was feeling or the situation he was in. I think the only time I heard him complain was about the food in the hospital being terrible or the coffee being cold!” she says.
She carries that mindset with her in her running—when she feels challenged, she draws on the grace and resilience he showed. It is a reflection of the way he lived: gentle, loving, kind, and devoted as a father.
Through The Woods, For Him
Training for this half-marathon has become a profound part of Hannah’s grieving process and a way to honor her father. She has taken to the woods as her main running spot, finding comfort in the trails that remind her of the outdoor adventures her dad found himself in.
Running through the trees and taking in the sights and sounds of nature allows her to feel connected to him, even in his absence. “Being part of the outdoors and taking it in, I try to think about that while I’m running and appreciate what I’m seeing, because he would have appreciated that,” she says.
Certain birds along her routes serve as especially meaningful reminders. “As I’m running, I look at birds—there’s a hawk that I see in our neighborhood that I used to talk to him about—so every time I see that hawk, I think, ‘Oh yeah, there he is.’ Especially with the birds, I’m always thinking about him.”
Every time she steps outside for a training run, she becomes even more appreciative of the opportunity to do this in the first place. “It’s something that helps me get outside,” she says, “because you always feel a little better after spending even a short time outdoors. Having this to look forward to has definitely helped me in that way.”
Aside from reminders of her father, running has become a crucial way for Hannah to clear her head amid the chaos of her life. Between caring for her one-year-old and navigating grief, the time on the trails offers her a rare moment of focus and calm.
When she hits those tough runs, she constantly reminds herself that “I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and I think of him and his whole journey with cancer; it reminds me that it’s a privilege to face this challenge, and not what he was going through.”
The Run He Inspires
As the Miami Half-Marathon approaches, Hannah reflects on what this race truly represents. It’s not just a testament to her dad and his legacy, but also a reminder of what determination and perseverance can accomplish. She tells herself, “When I started running almost three months ago, you would have told me I’d be running the distances I am now, I would have laughed at you. You can do it even if you think you can’t. You just have to give it time, work at it.”
She now finds herself looking forward to those longer runs, the ones she used to dread, the ones she thought she could never do. She reminds other runners, “It can seem super daunting at first, but you’re totally capable of doing it once you start going.”
The support from her community has also been a source of motivation. Initially setting a fundraising goal of $1,000 for Project Purple, Hannah was blown away when she reached it on the first day. “I was shocked. It really goes to show how much people loved my dad and cared for him, and want to continue to do something for him,” she shares. “Why would I want to stop when I have all these people behind me?” Thinking about everyone who has contributed gives her an extra boost on the longer, tougher stretches of her runs.
When the day comes, Hannah is truly ecstatic to experience the atmosphere of Miami and to build off the energy of other runners and cheerers. She is excited to see how she will do, but even more so, she looks forward to the opportunity to spread awareness about pancreatic cancer.
“Being able to do this for my dad and for others who are battling this terrible disease, and to support them and their families, is incredible,” she says. She also wants those navigating grief to know they are not alone, noting that “everyone’s grief journey is different.”
When she crosses that finish line in January, it will mean everything to her. It won’t just reflect her dad’s characteristic determination—she plans to “finish it just like he would have done”—but it will also be a deeply cathartic moment.
“I think about what it will feel like once I finish the race often when I’m running, and until it happens, I don’t think I can fully grasp what I’ll feel. But I know it will be very rewarding and just super gratifying for many reasons,” Hannah notes.
To support Hannah’s run in honor of her dad 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.
