The Next Best Thing
by Maida Broudo
One woman’s life changing quest to honor the memory of her father brings hope and inspiration to others.
How can anyone “top” running 52 marathons in the span of 52 weeks to
raise money and awareness for pancreatic cancer? Julie Weiss, 44, also
known as the Marathon Goddess, has figured it out.
Ms. Weiss has a “flower child” like quality and a contagious spirit.
When she smiles, it comes from her toes-literally. Perhaps that is why
Lupe Romero-De La Cruz, 52, and a pancreatic cancer patient, ran the
last mile of the 52nd marathon with Julie, even though she has just had
surgery three months earlier. Ms. Romero-De La Cruz had been given 6
months to live. Through Julie’s inspiration and dedication, De La Cruz
trained for and completed the Los Angeles Marathon on March 9th of this
year.
In 2012, Ms. Weiss decided to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks in memory
of her father, Maurice Weiss who died just one month after being
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “It was like a death sentence, “ said
Ms. Weiss. “I just had to do something to help.”
Helping is exactly what Julie is doing. Her marathon endeavors
provide significant impact for both the Maurice Weiss Pancreatic Cancer
Fund, and the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, with whom she is now is in
partnership. As an ambassador for Lazarex’s “Team for Life” endurance
division twenty percent of the funds raised by Ms. Weiss will be
allocated to help pancreatic cancer patients have access to breakthrough
treatments through FDA clinical trials with the rest going to the
foundation’s broader mission.
Ironically, the Founder and President of Lazarex Cancer Foundation,
Dana Dornsife, lost her brother in law, Mike Miller, then 46 years old,
to pancreatic cancer. This spurred her to find a way to help others
facing advanced cancer and searching for some sort of hope when they
have been told there are no other options. As of 2013, the foundation
has raised over 5 million dollars and provided 312 patients in 43 states
and 6 countries, with financial assistance, making it possible for
them to participate in clinical trials.
Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer related death,
most patients die within 2 years of their diagnosis. Despite this grim
statistic, it is the most under funded of all cancer research. To date,
Ms. Weiss has raised nearly $250,000, and is not stopping until she
reaches $1 million.
Though the 52 marathons are behind her, Ms. Weiss continues to run
and raise funds. Just this year alone she ran the LA Marathon and will
run the Boston Marathon, the Big Sur International Marathon, the San
Francisco Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon as a member of
Team for Life for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation.
For Ms. Weiss, the “next big thing” is seeing 2 pancreatic survivors
winning their battle and running their own half marathons to prove it.
Roberta Luna, 56 and an 11-year pancreatic cancer survivor, just
competed a half-marathon. Ms. De la Cruz, as already mentioned,
completed a full marathon just this past March. “These women have
hearts of gold, and are full of determination, life and love,” said Ms.
Weiss. “
That is really what it’s all about!”
Pre-Race Screening of Spirit of the Marathon II, April 26, Monterey, CA
During the Big Sur International Race weekend Ms. Weiss will be a
host/guest at a pre-race screening of the Spirit of the Marathon II
film in which she was featured as one of seven runners at the Rome
Marathon. This was the beginning of her quest to run one marathon a
week for a year to honor the memory of her father. Proceeds benefit the
Maurice Weiss Pancreatic Cancer Fund. For information and tickets go
to www.Lazarex.org.
Learn more about Team for Life at
www.teamforlifelcf.org and Julie Weiss, Marathon Goddess, at
www.marathongoddess.com.
About the author:
Maida Broudo has worked with cancer patients since she was 19, at the
Massachusetts General Hospital, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and
the National Cancer Institute, where clinical trials were de rigeur.
She spent much of her career with patients-mostly in delivering
Radiation Therapy, but also as a "navigator" helping them find the best
team for their diagnosis.
As a marathon runner, who has run 10 Boston Marathons to raise money
for cancer research, Maida found an instant love for the Lazarex
Cancer Foundation when introduced by her aunt and uncle. She felt it a
match of her own heart and could not look away.
Maida is currently a health journalist, consultant, and yoga
teacher. She also teaches at Harvard Medical School and tutors nursing
and allied health professionals. It is her very deep pleasure to be
involved with Lazarex, and looks forward to making a difference for
cancer patients.
