When Cole Parsons lined up at the start of the 2025 TCS NYC Marathon, he was stepping into a moment he had dreamed about for years, but under circumstances he could never have imagined.
A few months after his dad and greatest supporter, Lex, passed away from pancreatic cancer, Cole ran not only to complete his first marathon but to honor Lex’s memory and raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.
Each step through the streets of New York City carried the weight of grief, the lessons of a father who had shaped him, and a determination to turn personal loss into purpose by supporting the fight against this devastating disease.
Born to Run
Cole Parsons’ love for running began early, almost as soon as he could tie his shoes. Growing up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, he was drawn to the rhythm and discipline of track and cross country, sports that would come to define much of his childhood.
By sixth grade, running wasn’t just another activity: it was the sport he chose to pursue above all others. While he dabbled in swimming and other sports, his heart remained with distance running, steadily narrowing his focus over the years.
He continued his running journey at The College of New Jersey, joining both the track and cross country teams. Though injuries limited his seasons, he embraced each challenge with determination. Even after college, running remained a core part of his life, both for exercise and as a personal passion.
While he was no stranger to long runs from his cross country days, he had never tackled “anything like 26.2.” The idea of running a full marathon had lingered in the back of his mind for years. Now 27, living in Hoboken, NJ, and working in Midtown Manhattan, Cole had long admired the NYC Marathon from the sidelines, captivated by the energy and spirit of the event. “It’s the greatest day in NYC,” he says. “The energy, the positivity… It’s just a wonderful day to be part of humanity.”
After his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2025, Cole felt a strong desire to take action and honor his dad. While looking for ways to get involved, he discovered Project Purple, which sponsors runners in events like the NYC Marathon while raising money for pancreatic cancer awareness, a race he had always dreamed of running.
He quickly joined the team, feeling that, “leveraging the distance training that I had from my years of distance running, it seemed almost like a calling to see how I could get involved.” Being on the other side of the lines this year provided Cole the perfect opportunity for a first dabble in marathon running, and also an amazing way to put into practice the values his father had always encouraged.
“A Gentle Giant”
Lex Parsons, Cole’s father, was a quiet yet steady presence in his family’s life. Known as a “gentle giant,” Lex was thoughtful and always attentive to his children. He was the listener, always ready to offer insight, encouragement, or a practical solution to any problem.
From making breakfast and lunch for his two kids every morning to cheering at every track meet and cross country race, Lex’s support was constant, even in the smallest details. His logical, problem-solving nature extended beyond his work as an engineer and into his parenting. Whether helping with homework or offering guidance on work and life challenges, Lex’s calm, methodical approach left a lasting impression on Cole.
Moreover, Lex was extremely patient and empathetic, always genuinely caring about others. His last words to his two sons were to “respect each other and respect the earth,” advice that Cole and his brother carry with them every day. Reflecting on his father’s influence, Cole says, “I like to think that he passed a little of that down to me, and that one day I can reflect these qualities to the level that he did.”
When Lex was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2025, the calm, methodical approach he had modeled for his family was put to the test. Always a model of health, Lex had a passion for cycling and maintained an active lifestyle, and despite some indigestion and gallbladder issues over the years, he had never faced anything so serious.
The diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer came as a shock. After his previously manageable indigestion worsened, Lex and his family decided to get them checked out. Suddenly, his life, and the lives of his family, shifted into a world dominated by doctors, treatments, and difficult decisions. Cole described it as having their lives “turned upside down,” saying, “As soon as you get those Stage 4 words, it feels like everything is going at 100 miles an hour.”
Even with the extremely difficult road ahead, Lex faced his diagnosis with remarkable practicality, telling his family he wanted to do everything he could to give the treatments a shot. After a brief but intense course of aggressive chemotherapy, he unfortunately passed away on March 1st, 2025, leaving his family to process their loss while drawing on the patience, empathy, and strength he had taught them throughout his life.
Training Through Heartache
2025 was an incredibly challenging year for Cole and his family. In addition to the devastating loss of his father, Cole faced significant mental and physical setbacks that disrupted his training for the NYC Marathon. Just before his father’s diagnosis, Cole’s mother, Kristine, suffered a serious medical emergency that left her in the ICU for a week, with Cole as her sole support while Lex and Cole’s brother, Tyler, were away on work assignments. As if that weren’t enough, Cole’s beloved Uncle Jon was also in declining health during this time and passed away not long after Lex.
To navigate this difficult period, Cole leaned heavily into fitness and a structured training plan. “Having a goal and a consistent routine gave me something to focus on,” he says. “It helped me compartmentalize the grief and other challenges in my life.”
Yet the journey was far from easy. Severe shin splints, a recurring issue from his high school and college cross country days, threatened to keep him from even reaching the start line. Determined not to give up, Cole adjusted his training, incorporating alternative exercises like swimming and recalibrating his goals.
Throughout this process, he reflected on the lessons his father had imparted to keep going: patience, perseverance, and methodical problem-solving. “It added another layer to the journey,” Cole says, “but it helped me grow stronger, and it made reaching the start line that much more meaningful.”
Knowing his community was behind him made every training session feel more purposeful. The fundraising and camaraderie reminded him just how many lives his father, and their family, had touched over the years. Cole became the top individual donor in terms of the number of people who contributed, a tangible testament to the impact Lex had on those around him. “It was really fulfilling to see the community we’ve nurtured and built over the years come together like that,” he says.
Even in the midst of grief and fatigue, this support became a source of motivation. On days when he felt like skipping a run or was in pain, Cole thought about the broader purpose behind his training and the community that rallied behind him. “It reminded me why I was doing this,” he reflects. “It helps get you off the couch, plug in your earbuds, and go get done what you need to get done.”
New York, One Step at a Time
When November 2nd came, after a year filled with personal loss, injury setbacks, and emotional challenges, standing at the start line was already a victory in itself: an “eclipsing moment,” as Cole describes it.
He remembered the words of Coach Ryan Welsh, the trainer Project Purple provides to guide runners: “Training is the real marathon and the race is just the victory lap.” With all the obstacles he had faced, that sentiment resonated more than ever.
Through 26.2 daunting miles, Cole realized this was the first race he had ever run without his dad cheering him on. Yet, he felt Lex’s presence with him every step of the way, describing it as “one of the coolest things” he has ever done.
When he finally crossed the finish line, emotions were high and overwhelming. But this wasn’t just his achievement: Cole emphasizes that it was a victory shared with everyone who had supported him.
“It wasn’t just me who crossed the finish line,” he says. He prefers to say “we” when recalling the moment, recognizing friends, family, running partners, and the Project Purple community who had guided, motivated, and supported him through the year. He credits his mother and brother most of all, both of whom have been by his side his entire life. His mother showed him what true strength and perseverance look like during these incredibly trying times, while his brother has always been his best friend and the greatest training partner one could ask for.
This collective achievement felt like “everything had finally come together,” a powerful moment of clarity and accomplishment in a year that had often felt chaotic and heavy, not just for Cole, but for his loved ones who had also endured their own challenges and supporters who had his back through it all.
Reflecting on his experience, Cole offers insight for others facing loss, setbacks, or major life challenges. He emphasizes the importance of leaning on your support system, noting that no one has to face hardship alone. At the time, being so young and dealing with such a profound loss, he remembers feeling isolated, but in hindsight, he realized that wasn’t the case.
“One of the most valuable things I learned through this process is that you’re never really by yourself,” he explains. Project Purple, friends, family, and even casual connections, like a friend from cross country he reconnected with, who had also lost a parent to pancreatic cancer, became sources of guidance, encouragement, and understanding.
He also thinks back on his roommates who were always willing to talk with him about what he was feeling, assuring him they would have done it “1000 times over,” a reminder not to feel like a burden when sharing your grief.
Cole encourages others to keep going, taking things one step at a time, literally and figuratively, comparing the journey to marathon training: “Just keep going, one foot in front of the other. The finish line may not be 26 miles away; it could be next month, next year, but it will be there, and you can get there with the people around you.”
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
