For siblings Jay and Kelly Smith, the 2025 Sydney Marathon isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s a powerful tribute to two men whose lives have been touched by pancreatic cancer. As they head to Australia to complete what will be both of their seventh World Marathon Major, they’re running not only for the achievement, but to honor the lives and legacies of Tom Howe and Elliot Waldholz, two remarkable individuals affected by the disease.
From Chicago to Sydney: How a Single Race Grew Into a Shared Calling
The sibling duo has been running marathons together since 2015, starting with the Chicago Marathon in their home city. Kelly, a former University of Illinois cross-country and track athlete, had originally recruited her brother, Jay, to join her for what she thought would be a one-and-done race to help raise money for her friend’s mission. But that single race quickly turned into a shared passion.
“We got hooked after the first one,” Kelly says. Over the next decade, they tackled the six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago, New York, Berlin, Tokyo, and London. Sydney, recently named the seventh major this year, was a natural next step.
They already had their flights booked and training underway when life made the race more meaningful than they ever expected. Now, they weren’t just running for the thrill of the challenge—they were running for those who couldn’t.
That shift in perspective is something Kelly carries with her to every start line. “In all the marathons, I always stand on the start line thinking about how lucky I am and all 40,000 people there are to be able to be there to run a marathon,” she mentions. “And yeah, it’s gonna hurt and be painful and take a long time to get through, but just that we’re able to do that physically and mentally and having a specific cause this time, running for people who can’t, makes the miles go a bit easier.”
Honoring their Friend, Tom Howe
Tom Howe has been a part of the Smith’s family business in Chicago for years, but he’s more than just an employee.
“He’s basically a family member of ours,” says Jay.
A “quintessential Southside Irish guy from Chicago,” Tom is a retired firefighter known for his fierce loyalty, feisty spirit, and big heart. “If something needed fixing, if someone needed help, Tom was always the first to step in,” Jay states. “He’s not shy about giving his opinion, but you always knew he had your best interest at heart.”
Just last month, he was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer despite having stayed on top of regular screenings, as tragically, three of Tom’s brothers have passed away from the disease.
When Jay called to tell Tom that they were planning to dedicate running the Sydney Marathon to him, it was a moment they both would never forget. “It was a special phone call… and it was a hard phone call,” Jay says. “We were both crying by the end of it. He’s in the fight for his life right now, so the fact that he was moved to tears by us doing something so small as running 26 miles…it’s just a small thing we can do.”
For Kelly, thoughts of Tom often come during long runs. “He’s someone who never backs down from a challenge,” she says. “So it’s easy to think of him when it’s 75 degrees out and it’s 90 percent humidity…you keep going. You keep going for him.”
In Memory of Elliot Waldholz: “The Life of the Party”
Jay and Kelly are also running in memory of Elliot Waldholz, the father of Chantal, a close friend and longtime partner of Jay’s college roommate. Diagnosed in October 2024, Elliot passed away just two months later from an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
Though they never got to meet Elliot in person, they both have heard countless stories about his magnetic personality, larger-than-life presence, and talent for bringing people together.
From DJing backyard BBQs to turning an entire hospital wing into a party, Elliot was the guy who made every room feel warmer. Even during his illness, he was focused on making other people laugh.
When Jay reached out to ask if they could run in Elliot’s memory, Chantal was floored. “When I called her and let her know what our plan was, she was more or less brought to tears. The fact that we would think of her and her dad, even though we didn’t personally know him, she was extremely grateful that we would do something to honor him. She continually looks for ways to keep her dad alive in her community and people around her, so we’ve gotten a lot of support from her friends and family as well.”
Chantal, who has a large social media following under @drinkinglongisland, has posted a lot about her father and has shared her grief journey openly, giving voice to the pain and power of pancreatic cancer stories. “Chantal has this ability to bring everyone in a room together and make you feel welcome and comfortable. It seems like she got a lot of that from her dad,” Kelly says.
Miles With Meaning
The upcoming Sydney marathon will be Kelly’s 15th overall and Jay’s 8th, but both say this one will be the most meaningful.
While preparing for the race, the Smiths looked for a way to make their miles more purposeful. And, a quick search on the Sydney Marathon’s website led them to Project Purple.
They’ve already raised over $9,000 collectively through friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers who’ve been touched by pancreatic cancer.
Jay says, “It’s just humbling to see. Seeing so many people get behind you just reminds you of the type of impact you can have.”
“It’s definitely reached a lot more people than I thought,” adds Kelly. “Just to hear all their stories, things I didn’t know about people you think you’re close with—you just don’t know what everyone has been through.”
Some of those names will join Kelly and Jay on race day, in spirit. “We’re thinking of writing their names on our race shoes,” Kelly says. “I think it would be special for people to see that their loved one is still out there, even though they’re not here. They’re making a difference, and their story is still alive.”
Jay adds that training for this marathon has given him a new kind of perspective. “You’re doing long runs that are taking 2-3 hours, so you have time to think. You reflect on relationships, and you just feel grateful at the start line of a marathon. Just having the ability to get out and exercise and do something that we enjoy, while others can’t. Tom can’t get out and enjoy his life like he would normally, so not taking that for granted, you think about that during the runs as well.”
Looking Ahead To The Future Of This Disease
As their training miles turn into marathon steps in Sydney, Jay and Kelly are carrying more than just memories; they’re carrying hope. Hope that their efforts spark conversations, raise awareness, and help others catch pancreatic cancer earlier than their friends could.
“I don’t know a lot about the detection process,” Kelly says, “but I hope more people just become more aware of it and what they can do for early detection, so people can have better outcomes and not be given this terminal diagnosis. We need to find a way to find a cure.”
That hope is what led them to Project Purple, and it’s what keeps them moving through the long runs, the hot days, and the tough stretches. For the Smiths, this marathon is both a tribute to those they have lost and a powerful stand for those still fighting.
Because someday, they believe, those miles can lead to something bigger than a finish line.
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
