On March 15th, 2026, Taylor Mustapich will line up at the starting line of the NYC Half Marathon with Project Purple for the second time, ready to run a course she knows well. As a resident physician in orthopedics at Mount Sinai who lives and trains in Manhattan, the streets she will run are familiar territory, making each mile feel both personal and connected to her daily life.
But this year, the meaning has changed slightly; while she once ran to support her father through his battle with pancreatic cancer, she now runs in his memory and to support the broader fight against the disease, carrying his impact with her every step.
Striding Through Residency
Taylor Mustapich was always athletic, but running wasn’t part of her life growing up on Long Island. She played volleyball throughout high school and even a bit in college, learning discipline, perseverance, and the rewards of pushing herself.
These lessons would later prove essential during the long hours of medical school and her training to become a resident physician in orthopedics. It wasn’t until after graduating from college that Taylor really discovered running, initially as a stress reliever during the intensity of residency.
“Being a physician can be very stressful and takes up a lot of your time, so it’s easy to lose the things that you enjoyed doing previously,” she shares. “During the first couple of years of residency, I wasn’t doing much of the things I used to like to do.”
Running quickly became the perfect way for Taylor to reconnect with herself, providing structure, focus, and a sense of purpose during a demanding time in her life. “It gives me structure, it gives me motivation,” she shares.
She kept up this pace, running multiple races after graduating from college. But signing up for the NYC Half Marathon with Project Purple last year gave the training a deeper purpose: she was running in support of her father as he battled pancreatic cancer.
“Running the half last year was the first time I had trained for something since starting residency, and I really enjoyed it,” Taylor says. “It gave me a lot of structure.” That experience marked the beginning of a new chapter in her running journey, one intertwined with her father’s health, his strength, and the profound impact he had on her life.
The Life and Spirit of Tom Mustapich
Tom Mustapich was never a runner, but he was a constant source of support and inspiration for his daughter. From coaching her hockey team as a child to traveling to watch her games, he showed up in every way that mattered. Beyond simply being present, Tom’s way of thinking and approach to life left a lasting mark on Taylor.
Over the years, he held many different jobs, from selling large billboards in the city to selling boats and jet skis. Outside of work, he devoted himself to restoring motorcycles. Despite having no formal training, he had an uncanny ability to understand and fix machinery, taking on complex projects simply because he enjoyed them and had the skill. “He was incredibly smart. I’ve never met anyone quite like that,” she remembers.
Beyond his material skills, Tom’s humor and warmth defined who he was. Even last year, when Taylor ran the NYC Half for him, he joked, “Why would anybody do this? This is horrible! This looks so painful!” This playful spirit remained strong even during his illness, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.
In September 2024, Tom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after experiencing some vague gastrointestinal symptoms that led to a scan, which revealed a mass on his pancreas. The news was devastating, but Taylor found a way to support him while balancing the demands of her residency.
Because he received treatment at Mount Sinai, the same hospital where she works, Taylor was able to spend time with him between cases and attend appointments. Although oncology is not her specialty, she could also help translate complex medical information for her parents.
However, being so involved in the medical aspects of her father’s care made things both meaningful and emotionally challenging for Taylor. “It did make things harder because I understood a little bit more about how poor the prognosis was,” she recalls.
The tumor was initially deemed unresectable. There was hope that chemotherapy might shrink it enough for surgery, so Tom began treatment the following week. He pursued every available option, including multiple chemotherapy regimens and clinical trials. However, the cancer continued to grow and eventually metastasized: “We never got good news, unfortunately, as many pancreatic cancer stories go,” Taylor reflects.
Despite the progression of his illness, Tom remained determined to be present for the milestones that mattered most, including Taylor’s wedding this past summer. “He really, really pushed and made it to my wedding. That was the one thing he really wanted to make,” Taylor recalls. Tragically, he passed away the week after, just one year after his initial diagnosis.
First Miles with Project Purple
Right after her dad’s diagnosis last year, Taylor wasted no time deciding to do something to support him. Running had already become a source of structure and stress relief during residency, and she realized it could also be a way to honor her father.
“There were a lot of things that were out of my control, and one thing I wanted to do was raise money for him and show him support, to show him how many people were supporting him. So I decided to run,” Taylor remembers.
Having run other half marathons in the past and seen people run for charity, Taylor was specifically looking for a cause supporting pancreatic cancer. That’s when she discovered Project Purple and immediately joined their team for last year’s NYC Half Marathon. “I was looking for a way to support my dad and get back into running. Project Purple came up quickly, and when I got a spot on the team, I was so excited. It felt perfect.”
Choosing the NYC Half was an easy decision, especially since she lives right on the full marathon course. “I’m always so inspired by all the runners and the amazing causes they’re running for, and I think I can do that—in half-distance form,” Taylor laughs. “Around a month or two after my dad was diagnosed, the marathon happened, and the idea came to me that maybe I could support him. There are so many great charities I could run for, and that’s when it kind of popped into my mind.”
That race was especially meaningful because Tom was there to cheer her on as she ran in support of him, and Taylor remembers how happy and proud he was. “He was really touched by all the people who came out of the woodwork to support him.”
As a more introverted person, he didn’t always realize how much support he had. Knowing how many people showed up for him made Taylor’s running and all the fundraising around it feel even more meaningful.
Now, after losing him, Taylor knew she didn’t want to stop. Running had become a source of fulfillment and a way to feel connected to her dad, even though he’s no longer here. “It is very cathartic and helps me remember him in a quiet and peaceful way,” Taylor adds.
She decided to keep the momentum and signed up to run the NYC Half with Project Purple for a second year in a row, this time with a slightly different meaning. “Obviously, I’ve lost him, but I still wanted to do it again this year. Now I’m running in his honor instead of in support,” she explains.
Looking Ahead on the Course: A Changed Perspective
Now, as Taylor prepares for this year’s NYC Half Marathon, her approach reflects a deeply changed perspective. Last year, she ran in support of her father during his battle with pancreatic cancer. This year, she runs in his memory and for the broader cause of raising awareness for the disease. Having just started her training block, she’s found that many of her runs have become a space to process grief and navigate the emotions that come with losing him.
“It’s a time to reflect and think about grieving and all the other emotions that come with losing a family member. It’s very cathartic—you’re alone, but you’re also doing something, and you kind of reach a flow state,” she explains.
Knowing her father won’t be there cheering her on this year is difficult, but Taylor finds comfort in the support around her. While he won’t be there to see it, her mother, friends, and other family members will be cheering her on, keeping the spirit of last year alive. “It’s still a very good stress reliever and therapeutic thing for me,” she reflects. Seeing how many people her dad touched brings her an added sense of connection as she runs.
This year, her husband will be running alongside her for the first time in a full training block, making the experience even more meaningful and giving them time to share the process together.
Running for Project Purple now carries an even broader significance, reminding her why she runs: to raise awareness and support everyone affected by pancreatic cancer. “If the people fighting pancreatic cancer, like my dad during his twelve-hour chemotherapy sessions, can endure all that pain—emotionally, physically, mentally—I can tough this out. It’s just running. It gives me perspective,” she shares.
When race day arrives, Taylor will be running on the very streets she has trained on, making the course feel familiar and grounding. The energy of the NYC Half Marathon is always exhilarating, and she looks forward to reuniting with her family afterward.
“I love the New York City Half—the energy is just amazing the whole way through. Finishing in Central Park is especially meaningful since that’s where I do most of my training, so it feels very familiar,” she says.
Looking ahead, Taylor hopes to continue running and raising awareness. She dreams of completing a full marathon one day with Project Purple and of seeing advancements in pancreatic cancer treatment. “I want to be able to support families with the experience I had, to give advice, and help them figure out how best to support their loved ones,” she says.
To support Taylor’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.
