For the last 11 years, Julie Weiss has been a runner. It is a sport that helps her push forward.
- Runner raising awareness for pancreatic cancer research
- Raised more than $500,000 to find a cure
- Disease has nearly 99 percent mortality rate
“It’s just my happy place,” Weiss said.
Six years ago, Weiss ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer research. Weiss said it was a calling after she lost her own father to the disease.
“He passed away just 10 days later. I went and ran that race for him and I qualified for Boston that day. After I crossed that finish line, that’s when I knew I had to do more,” Weiss said.
Since then, Weiss has raised more than $500,000 to find a cure. The experience took a toll on her body, but she is determined to run again.
This time, Weiss will run 52 shorter races to bring awareness and help research ways to lower the disease’s nearly 99 percent mortality rate with the Hirshberg Foundation For Pancreatic Cancer Research.
“A lot more is known than it was 20 years ago and every day, people say, ‘How much closer are we to the cure?’ It’s baby steps,” said Lisa Manheim with the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Research.
As Weiss prepares for her first race at the Skechers Performance L.A. Marathon on Saturday, she will be thinking of her father and her friend Lupe Romero, a friend she recently lost to the disease.
“It’s even more important to me now to do this, to raise more hope and awareness, and you know, sadly she won’t be with me. But like my dad, I know she’s going to be with me in spirit and we’re going to keep going,” Weiss said.
Weiss' 52 Races for 52 Faces campaign will dedicate each race to someone who has been affected by the disease, starting with Romero. Weiss said she hopes sharing each person's story will help fund the needed research and bring this disease to the finish line.