Angel never imagined she’d run a marathon, but when her father-in-law Bob agreed to run one alongside her, she stayed dedicated to the goal, even after he sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer. What began as a shared challenge became a deeply personal journey, inspiring her to cross the finish line in his honor.
This October, Angel will step onto the streets of Chicago alongside thousands of runners for the Chicago Marathon to fulfill the promise she made to Bob. Every mile she runs will serve as a tribute to his memory, honoring the commitment they once shared and keeping him close to her heart all the way to the finish line.
“It’s gonna feel like I’ll be able to keep a promise that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to follow through,” Angel said.
Dreaming Big Together
Angel described Bob as quiet, but passionate. When doing something he loves, he can talk to you about every aspect of it. Bob and Angel shared a special relationship. They bonded a lot while renovating their house. Bob did everything he could to step up and help his stepson Sam and Angel out. He was a ‘fix-it guy,’ so that part came naturally to him.
His generosity extended far beyond Sam and Angel’s housing renovations.
“Anything I wanted to do, he tried to help me,” Angel said.
When Angel was 9 months pregnant and found herself stuck with a broken dryer, she called Bob, and he told her exactly what to do over the phone.
“He was always willing to do whatever we wanted,” Angel said. “He was the kind of guy you could call at 1 a.m. to pick you up if you needed a ride, and he would never get mad about it.”
Bob was no beginner when it came to running. He had completed the Chicago Marathon, ultra marathons, local marathons, and even the Boston Marathon three times. Surprisingly enough, Angel didn’t even know all this until just a few years ago. Bob was known to be humble, and clearly he was.
When Angel was going through postpartum depression, she started to dream big and have something to look forward to. She and Bob were talking about what they wanted to accomplish. When she suggested running a marathon, Bob didn’t hesitate to jump on the opportunity. They agreed to do one together.
A Rapid Diagnosis
Bob’s battle with pancreatic cancer began even before his diagnosis, when he started experiencing persistent gastrointestinal issues, particularly after eating or consuming alcohol. He also noticed unexplained weight loss and changes in his skin color, but at the time, his worsening stomach problems were the most noticeable and concerning symptom.
When Bob first sought medical care, doctors believed his symptoms were related to his gallbladder. However, after undergoing further testing in mid-April, they discovered the real cause was pancreatic cancer. Doctors determined it had already progressed significantly, as they initially gave Bob 6 months to a year to live.
When Bob received the news of his diagnosis, he was just a few days away from his 2-week trip to Italy that had been postponed many times. He was under the impression that going away for two weeks wouldn’t help or hurt him. So, Bob and his wife, Diane, took off to Italy for one last trip, just the two of them, and decided to share the news when they got home.
One night during their vacation, Angel received a call from Bob and Diane.
“Thinking back, the conversation was just so sincere and heartfelt,” Angel shared. “I know now it was because they knew and I didn’t.”
When they returned home from their trip, Bob and his family quickly began preparing for treatment, with surgery to place his chemotherapy port scheduled for the following week. However, his cancer progressed so quickly that just a week or two after it was placed, he passed away. When he was preparing to begin chemo, he experienced severe fluid retention that required a drainage procedure. Those complications delayed his treatment, preventing him from ever having the chance to start chemo.
Cherished Final Moments
Even in the midst of such a heartbreaking time, Bob was able to have one amazing, final birthday surrounded by the people who loved him the most. On June 1st, the day before Bob’s birthday, family members gathered to honor his life, sharing stories, laughter, and cherished memories that reflected the kind of person he was.
The day became more than a birthday celebration; it was a chance to spend precious time together, celebrate the moments they had shared, and create a lasting memory they could carry with them long after Bob was gone.
“It was one last big birthday together with the whole family,” Angel says. “We just talked about anything and everything.”
The next day, he was admitted to the hospital and never came home. Shortly before he passed, Angel went by herself to visit him and Diane in the hospital.
“It was such a wonderful visit,” Angel shared. “He spent the whole time telling me he was proud of me and how much he loved me.”
Bob also spent that time sharing his love for Diane. Angel expressed that that was his favorite thing to do. To Bob, Diane was everything, and he poured so much genuine love into her. Talking about her was his favorite thing to do, and sharing how wonderful she is.
“He genuinely just thought the world revolved around her, and it was beautiful,” Angel said.
Running through Grief
When Bob originally shared the news with Angel that he had only been given 6 months to a year, Angel knew that now was the time to run, in hopes that Bob would be there to witness it.
During the first couple of weeks after Bob was diagnosed, Angel would go for runs and update Bob along the way. Every milestone she completed, Bob was right there sending her a text, rejoicing over every small step. He was beyond happy to celebrate those things with her.
However, as Bob’s cancer progressed so quickly, running became an afterthought, and spending their last moments with him took priority.
The day Angel received the news that Bob had passed, she had this overwhelming feeling that she wanted to go on a run. She dropped her kids off at school, got home, and ran to her mother-in-law’s house. She felt that same compelling feeling again the morning of his funeral.
Normally, that would have been a day most people decided to take off, but Angel knew what Bob would have wanted her to do. Running was great for her mental health. It made her feel connected to Bob and close to him, even after he was gone.
“Every time I get out there, I feel closer to him, and I feel better,” Angel said.
Eventually, Angel decided she wanted to sign up for a race, and that’s when she found the Charlotte Half Marathon. That was her first big step forward, before hearing about the Chicago Marathon. When she heard about the energy, the environment, and runners’ past experiences, she was immediately drawn to it.
Why Project Purple
While Angel was looking into marathons, she didn’t really know where to start. She didn’t believe that she would qualify for Chicago, but when she learned you could run with a charity, she thought it was a great idea. She just wanted it to be one she was really passionate about.
“I wanted to pick one where fundraising actually matters to me,” Angel said. “Where I can put my all behind it and actually do something.”
Angel’s first choice was finding an organization dedicated specifically to pancreatic cancer. If she couldn’t find one, her backup plan was to support a cancer charity with a broader mission. Luckily for her, she discovered Project Purple and was inspired by the many marathon opportunities that were being offered.
Eager to run the marathon, the day sign-ups were open for the 2026 Chicago Marathon, she was right there, ready to apply.
What made Project Purple stand out to Angel was its sense of community. Beyond its dedication to pancreatic cancer research, she admired the commitment to supporting patients and their families in so many different ways. As someone who likes to have her hands in a little bit of everything, she felt like Project Purple was a natural fit.
“I spend a lot of time thinking about him and how he would be so happy to know I’m continuing,” Angel said. “And that I’ve found a community of people who will help me get through it.”
Running with a team is also new to Angel, and she is looking forward to meeting the others in person.
“To know that I have this network of people who just get it and that, somehow, running is also helping them is a very unique experience,” Angel shared. “It’s nice to have people to share that with.”
Race Day
Race Day is going to be huge for Angel. When she crosses that finish line, nothing is going to matter.
“I am emotional thinking about it already, and I’m not even close to being there,” Angel said.
All the hard work she has put into training and fundraising will be worth it.
“I know I’m going to feel strong and feel this overwhelming sense of, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I was able to do this,’” Angel shared. “How incredible it is that I get to do this, that I was able to do this.”
One of the biggest things she is excited for is the energy she expects to experience on race day. Being a part of the crowd and being a part of something that so many people work so hard for is going to be a motivator to push Angel through the 26 miles. She also can’t wait to see her parents there, cheering her on, and understand why she is doing what she is doing.
Memory That Lives On
Given Bob’s lifelong passion for running, taking on the Chicago Marathon with Project Purple is one of the most meaningful ways Angel can honor his legacy and carry his memory forward. In many ways, she is literally following his footsteps, running the same course he once completed while celebrating his life and the inspiration he left behind.
Preparing for the marathon and raising awareness for pancreatic cancer has only strengthened Angel’s connection to Bob. Each run has become a way to cope with their grief, move forward, stay grounded, and remain connected to the memories they shared
“Every time I run, I think about him; I can’t not, I wouldn’t be doing it if he weren’t there,” Angel shared.
Bob always wondered if he would leave something behind that would be remembered, and that’s just what Angel is doing. Running for a charity that specializes in pancreatic cancer has allowed her to talk about him more and share what he has left behind.
“It allows me to share his memories and to smile when I think about him and not just be sad or be angry or whatever those feelings are,” said Angel. “It just allows me to think about and talk about him often.”
As the Chicago Marathon gets closer, Angel knows this journey has become about more than reaching the finish line. It has given her a meaningful way to celebrate Bob’s life, preserve the memories they shared, and ensure that his impact continues to others.
“I’m probably going to say I’m never doing this again,” Angel said, “And then 20 minutes later I’m going to be looking to sign up for one of the following years.”
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
