Sunday, November 1st, will be a big day for Brian Dagliere as he takes on his first-ever marathon at the New York City Marathon.
Brian has completed plenty of races before, but something special sets this one apart from the rest. Brian will be raising funds for Project Purple while honoring his mom, Carol, as she continues her fight against pancreatic cancer.
Brian’s running journey began while he was growing up when he ran track and cross country in high school and continued into college at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI. Running and exercise became an important part of his life, something he describes as his greatest stress reliever, but life got busy as he began building his professional career.
Understandably, running gradually took a backseat between working two jobs and purchasing his first home in New Haven, CT.
After witnessing Carol fight pancreatic cancer with strength, resilience, and optimism – and later navigating his own battle with cancer – Brian found himself getting back into running.
If you’d like to support Brian in his fundraising efforts, you can click here to visit his page.
A Loving Mom
Being an only child, Brian knows his mom as his “first best friend.” He describes Carol as an animal lover and a great cook of classic Italian American dishes, but what he loves the most about her is her silliness and ability to make the best out of any situation. Even as time passes, Brian is proud to hold a special place in his heart for his mom.
Before Carol’s diagnosis, Brian said that nearly every conversation with his mom had a way of lifting his spirits and making him laugh. Thankfully, that hasn’t changed throughout her fight against pancreatic cancer. Carol continues to embrace the bright side and has never lost sight of who she is.
“The environment you grow up in really reflects who you are as a person. Of course I take after both of my parents,” Brian laughs, “but I am wholeheartedly my mom with her light-heartedness and being really silly.”
In November 2020, Brian’s parents moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to begin the next chapter of their lives in retirement. Carol and Barry, Brian’s dad and Carol’s husband of over 41 years, planned to spend their days relaxing, enjoying the beach and warm weather, and making the most of their new stage of life.
Fighting Together, From Miles Apart
In November 2024, Carol started to notice pain and knew something was wrong. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Receiving the news weeks before Christmas, Carol’s favorite time of the year, made the diagnosis that much more difficult for her, Barry, Brian, and the family.
Carol was a candidate for the Whipple procedure, so she, Barry, and Brian went to MUSC in Charleston, and she underwent an extensive 6-hour surgery. Carol came out of surgery acting exactly like herself, immediately cracking jokes and making Brian smile.
“She handled the Whipple extraordinarily well,” Brian said.
Carol began chemotherapy and radiation shortly after her surgery. Although she experienced hair loss, it didn’t dampen her spirits. She made the most of wig shopping by experimenting with different styles and continued moving forward with strength, determination, and good humor.
Less than six months before his wedding, in April 2025, Brian started noticing changes in his own body and experiencing pain.
Having learned from his mom’s experience, he immediately sought medical attention and underwent a full-body scan to make sure nothing was wrong.
The scan brought unexpected news. Brian was diagnosed with testicular cancer, while his mother was still battling pancreatic cancer.
At first, Brian was conflicted about what to do and who to tell.
“My mom was still undergoing her treatment, so I didn’t want to stress out my parents more than they already were.”
When Brian told his parents, the news was devastating, especially for his dad, Barry, who was now dealing with two loved ones’ unexpected battles.
During the spring, Brian and Carol were going through chemotherapy treatment at the same time. Although Brian was in Connecticut and Carol was in South Carolina, he believes that the difficult circumstances ultimately brought them closer together.
“Seeing how well she was doing in chemo really helped me,” Brian said. “If she can do it, I can do it.”
Brian underwent surgery, followed by chemotherapy, which was all completed before the end of June 2025.
Brian and his fiancée (now wife), Mia, did their best to stay calm amid both Brian and Carol’s treatments while also planning for their wedding day in September 2025.
One of the most meaningful parts of the wedding celebration was that Carol was there, and that both she and Brian were feeling better. After everything they had been through, the night gave them a chance to enjoy the moment and celebrate together as a family.
Brian and Carol shared a mother-son dance to “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King, and for those few minutes, everything else seemed to fade away. After months of uncertainty and difficult treatments, they were able to simply be together and share a special moment; it was a moment Brian will carry with him as a reminder of his mom’s strength, spirit, and the bond they share.
As of September 2026, Carol is still undergoing treatment. Not long ago, doctors found residual cancer cells, leading her to begin a slightly modified version of FOLFIRINOX. Carol is expected to finish this round of treatment in December.
The Road Back to Running
Just 10 days after surgery, Brian went on his bachelor party in Newport, RI, and didn’t let his cancer diagnosis get in the way of celebrating with his closest friends.
When Brian returned home to Fairfield, CT, he woke up with a feeling most men probably don’t have after a fun-filled bachelor party weekend—he wanted to go for a run.
It had been a while since Brian had run on a consistent basis, but it felt great to start again.
Brian paused his regular fitness routine in preparation for chemotherapy. After his first round of treatment, he was ready to get his body moving again, so he went for a walk. Brian found himself thinking seriously about running again and revisiting a goal that had always been on his bucket list: completing a marathon.
Brian started incorporating running back into his fitness routine after his wedding.
Brian signed up for the Bigelow Tea Community Challenge 5K in October, followed by the Newport County YMCA Thanksgiving Day Pie Run in November. From there, he continued building his running base back up, eventually leading him to the Fairfield Half Marathon in June 2026. After completing the half, Brian felt ready to take on the challenge of a full marathon, partnering with Project Purple.
The Why that Keeps Him Going
When Brian decided to take on his first marathon, he knew he wanted to use the opportunity to support a cause that was close to his heart.
“I went through something tough, and my mom went through something tough,” Brian said. “I thought, if I am going to do this, what would be the number one charity I’d pick?”
The answer was Project Purple.
With so many personal connections to people affected by pancreatic cancer, choosing to run for the cause made the marathon even more meaningful for Brian. As he trains, running has once again become an outlet and a way for him to cope with the difficult year his family has experienced and the challenges that still lie ahead. Knowing he is running for a purpose gives him even more motivation to keep pushing when the miles get difficult.
“When you’re running, and it gets tough, and I think, ‘Why am I here?’ I think about Project Purple, the monthly calls, people sharing stories, I think about my story, and I think about my mom,” Brian said. “Then I think about hearing people who have had pancreatic cancer and Whipple surgery and are doing half marathons and marathons. You just get this great surge of energy and end up pushing through that long run or sprint.”
Beyond running, Brian has also found a strong sense of support through the Project Purple community. Each month, he joins the virtual meetings where people share their experiences, hear stories similar to his own, and celebrate the strength of pancreatic cancer survivors. Being surrounded by people who understand what he and his family have experienced has given Brian another source of encouragement throughout his journey.
“Having a community is 1000% helpful,” Brian said. “Just knowing that someone cares. You can feel very alone.”
Race Day
Brian knows race day will be an emotional one. Brian’s parents initially planned to make the trip to New York to support him in-person, but with Carol continuing chemotherapy during that time, traveling is not possible. While Brian wishes his mom could be there in person, Brian knows she will be supporting him every step of the way.
“When I think about any pain I feel on the run or while training, I know she’s going through that and more,” Brian shared.
That thought gives each mile a deeper meaning. Brian knows that the discomfort he may feel during the race is temporary while his mom continues to face the challenges of treatment.
While crossing the finish line will be a major milestone, Brian is also looking forward to something bigger than his own race. He is excited to see the many charities represented at the marathon and witness people from different causes coming together for a common purpose.
“I’m excited to see other charities there as well, and everyone coming together and forming a unit, I think, is a beautiful thing,” Brian said.
The Impact You Don’t Always See
One of Brian’s biggest takeaways from this journey is that you never know who is watching or what someone else may be going through. During a workout class at the gym, he found himself walking and running alongside a woman whose dad had passed away from pancreatic cancer.
After Brian shared that he was running the NYC Marathon with Project Purple, she opened up about her own connection to the disease. The conversation stayed with Brian, and during the second half of the class, she decided to start running alongside him.
For Brian, it was a reminder that the energy and positivity you put out into the world can inspire others in ways you may never see. Just because you don’t see the impact you’re making doesn’t mean your strength and positivity aren’t reaching someone else.
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
