This journey has been filled with so many moments or coincidences, or signs from the universe that I am on the right track. Even the room key at my hotel today, look at this: While I was running marathon #44 in Arizona, I met Natalie. First I met her at the expo, then we saw each other around mile 6. We have something in common, unfortunately it is that both of our fathers passed away from pancreatic cancer. We were talking about our fathers and she mentioned that her father was only 47 when he passed. Then the sign came, marathon #47 is for Natalie’s father Dwayne Jones. Both of us immediately had chills covering our entire bodies. It was meant to be. So here I am about to tackle a marathon with 4,800 feet of elevation gain, I have no idea where I am (somewhere in San Francisco), but I do know what I’m doing, I am fighting the good fight against pancreatic cancer and today I run for 3 very special people. Dwayne Jones,the first part of my marathon is for you:                    

As I close in on my journey I am getting more emails every day of people in someway affected by pancreatic cancer. It breaks my heart, but I am happy to be able to run in memory of a loved one, spread awareness about a severely underfunded disease that has been ignored for much too long. I find that running in someones name puts a name to the disease making 
it more real to people who read about it. That in and of itself is a
 huge benefit to bringing awareness of this horrible disease. The reality is that there is not enough marathons for the number of people affected by pc, but for these marathons it’s more about 
the emotions that they bring up in people who hear about them. Also,
when I learn about the person I am running for it gives me strength,
and motivation to finish for them. I imagine their spirit helping me
 along. I have 4 special people I am running for today: For Maureen: (written by her children) Even growing up in the depression era, and suffering polio as a youngster, she was a vibrant young lady who loved helping others, which, in large part, led to her becoming an elementary school teacher. She was a wonderful wife and mother of 3. On her 46^th birthday, while undergoing gallbladder surgery, she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Despite being a non-smoker and drinker, she had grown up in a household where both parents smoked heavily, which is a huge contributing factor in pancreatic cancer in the next generation, as well as lung cancer and other smoking related diseases, despite the kids not smoking themselves. She underwent full chemo and radiation, but despite the Cross Cancer Institute’s best efforts, and the prayers of her family and friends, she passed away on November 13, just two months after being diagnosed. She was a beloved teacher, and they have erected a permanent plaque in her honor at Dalton Elementary. More than that, her memory lives on with her children and friends, who are committed to doing something about this terrible disease for Maureen’s grandchildren, who she never got to meet, and for the children and grandchildren of everyone else affected. Her son Dave goes on to say “sometimes bad things happen to good people, and it is the duty of the ones left behind to make something good come of it and of the sacrifice of Maureen and the tens of thousands like her”. David, Craig and Suzanne I send my love to you today, running in memory of your beautiful mother and creating hope and turning something so negative into a huge positive change. We got this. xoxox Julie Running mile 1 for my brother in arms, Benjamin Timoner’s father. Benjamin is currently walking across the country,for the second time, to raise money for pc in honor of his father. Yes you heard that right. His father Bert passed away from pc in 1974 at the young age of 41 and is buried here in Miami 🙁 Benjamin, Mile 1 is for your Dad. I am pretty sure he was your number 1 fan, just like my dad. All the best to you and wish you much success in your journey accross America. We got this! I received an email from Simon about his father Dave last week and told me about this incredible story form an inspiring man who is a runner at heart. He has run 66 marathons and 120+ half marathons over the years. He and his dad completed The Beechy Head marathon in October last year his dad beat him by 35mins so clearly his competitive spirit is still strong even though he is currently fighting pc. He continually stressed that for a marathon you shouldn’t think of half way as 13 miles. The hard work and the half way point he always assured him that it started around 20 miles – that’s where the training really began to pay off – how right he was. Dave Wickham, miles 20-26.2 are for you. Keep on believing, never loose hope. I will run for you too. For more on the official story, here is the link: http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/real-life-stories/inoperable/dave#.UPx5N0IKox4.mailto and their giving link. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/simonwickham. Such an incredible will. Just yesterday I got a last minute beautiful email, with a donation and was asked “just look up and smile for Edie at some point in my run” his mom who passed away just this past March. Howard G. It would be an honor and thank you for your donation. We are going to fix this for your Dave, for Edie, for Benjamin’s Dad, for Maureen and so many others including my Dad. We cant stop now. With your help we can make a difference and we are. Please join in to Know it. Fight it and End it. Together we can, together we can create miracles. If I can run 45 marathons in 45 weeks, we can do anything! We are Team Hope and We got this. All my best wishes. See you at the finish line. xoxo Julie

I was contacted this week by a beautiful facebook friend. We have something in common… unfortunately it is that both of our fathers passed away from pancreatic cancer. 🙁 She asked if I could dedicate some of my race to her Dad. His birthday was last week, January 15th he would have been 67 years old, way too young. She misses him terribly. I know the feeling. So although I don’t know much about her father, I do know that he was immensely loved by his daughter. I will run my race #44 in honor of Keith and for his family. I will keep up this strength and dedication to this fight as long as I live. It has become my lifes mission to bring awarenesss to a disease that has been ignored for far too long. We just can’t stop, every dollar counts and thank you so much Mignon for your generous donation. Also, every bit of awareness that we create makes a difference in getting people to understand that we can’t ignore this any longer. I will run in honor of a man who was so loved by his family and for his birthday my gift is raising hope for everyone affected from pancreatic cancer. We are in this together and together we will raise enough hope, awareness and money to end it once and for all. Sending hope and love to your family today and every day. God bless. My dear friend forever Jennifer Thompson reached out to me a few weeks ago because her beautiful mother in law Donna Thompson passed away the day after Christmas after losing a long battle with diabetes on December 26, 2012. All though I am running to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer ,these two people died needlessly.Donna was a devoted wife, loving mother, giving grandmother, loyal parishioner and friend. Donna was loved by many and will be missed. I love Jen and her family with all my heart. A special Mile 26 is for you Donna xo We will continue to search for a cure for pancreatic cancer, for all cancers and for all diseases, something has to be done. I am hoping that this campaign can inspire, create and help send that message of action. So with that, I am off to run 26.2 miles against a beast of a disease and for others too. Knowing that we are not alone in the fight, we must come together and end it once and for all. Sending all my best wishes and so much love to the family of Keith Knapp and Donna Thompson, I will see you in 26.2 . We got this! xo      

I met Nancy’s amazing son Mark Kramer, right after I lost my Dad through a mutual friend’s Facebook post. Then I finally got to meet him in real time at the Missoula Marathon, my marathon #14. Mark told me about how he lost his mother to the ugly beast we call Pancreatic Cancer. It was my first introduction to someone else affected by pancreatic cancer, until then I really had no idea what we were dealing with and what lied ahead. As I sit here on the plane to Mississippi to run marathon #42, I listen to Frank Sinatra sing “I Did it My Way” which was the song Mark describes his mother in her eulogy. Funny thing, I always have thought of my Dad when I heard that song. Nancy: She lived a life, that was full. She travelled each and every highway And more, much more than this, She did it her way. A graduate of the University of Illinois, a devoted wife, mother of 3, a teacher, a woman of the world who loved to travel. (Just to name a few) It sounds like she had the strength that could move mountains and a love that made a house a home and that is what Nancy was all about LOVE. She got it right. Just look at the love she gave to her family and her 6 beautiful grandchildren. So beautiful. Mark describes his mother as super woman and as I read more I would tend to agree. For example as if the above wasn’t enough, Nancy battled breast cancer and while going through treatment, she never missed a day of work. She also entered into a local 5k race and won first in her age group. Wow! When she was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and given a very short time to live she forged on for 3 more years battling it with dignity, bravery and love. Her family was always a priority and she still made time to really LIVE her life, she did it her way while loving everyone up along the way. It doesn’t get much better then that. I could go on and on about this amazing woman, but then I would miss my marathon. Seriously, this post does not do her justice. However, over the next several hours I will remember and honor a woman after my own heart. She raised a beautiful family, lived her life to the fullest! She faced it all and she stood all and did it her way! Sending love to you Mark and your beautiful family. May your mother’s beautiful spirit of love continue to shine on you all the days of your life. What a blessing she is and always will be. Thank you for letting me honor her in this way and I am going to love it up for the next 26.2 miles in honor of your mother. We got this! xo Julie      

I met Brenda Coleman at Grandma’s Marathon. She is one of those rare, high energy leaders, that you can’t help but love. It was my Marathon number 10 this past June. Brenda is a 11 year SURVIVOR of Pancreatic Cancer. Now she is being challenged again. As rare as this is, the cancer has returned, but if anyone can beat it twice it is Brenda. She is a warrior. Brenda Coleman is Twin Cities Affiliate Coordinator for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She and TEAMhope welcomed me with open arms when I arrived in Minnesota. Brenda is so beautiful inside and out. She has a confidence and faith that can move mountains. With your help and Gods love let’s build those mountains higher and stronger than ever before. Thus I ask you to all join in and help her in the fight to beat this again by sending healing, loving energy as she starts her first round of chemo today. We are all here for you and send you all the love and healing energy to stay strong. As I run for you today know every mile is for you, every mile is to heal, every mile is to love and let the healing begin, because we are going to win. As I approach the finish line know that this is symbolic of Brenda getting to the finish line once again and this time she will finish stronger then ever before. Beating pancreatic cancer twice, with more love, strength and all the health in the world.

Not everyone leaves behind a record, a book or their name on a building. Today I am remembering and running for a man for his dedication and philanthropic endeavors, Dr. Kiva Skolnick. I am so blessed and fortunate to learn about him. Dr Skolnick lived in Beverly, Mass. He was a dentist and in addition to operating a private dental practice for the past 45 years, has also served as the primary dentist at the clinic for more than 40 years, that provides dental care to school age children, ranging from kindergarten to grade 12, whose families are unable to afford dental care. “Thousands of children in Beverly have gotten dental care that could have otherwise gone untreated because of Dr. Skolnick,” said Bill Burke, director of Public Health. “He is a gentle mannered man whose personality has calmed many frightened children. He is our unsung hero.” Kiva made contributions to his home town of Beverly, to dentistry and was devoted to his Temple. A generous man I would have loved to know. It sounds like he had a humorous attitude toward life and he embraced living. It also sounds like there were many who knew him, loved him, cherished and sought his company. However, I get the feeling that he was a very humble man. A role model and someone we wish to emulate and imitate. Kiva leaves behind a legacy to his friends and children and grandchildren. I quote from Rabbi Alison Adler , “Perhaps we should all learn to adopt some of his ways to make this beautiful world of ours a better and safer place.”

It’s hard to believe I finished marathon #39 today. This journey is going by so fast, I know there is still 12 more, but to me that’s like only 12? Well, today’s marathon was awesome, no taxis, planes, hotels or luggage. What a pleasure. It was right in my back yard, Santa Monica beach. I walked out of the house and was there in less then 5 minutes. I dedicated today’s marathon to Steve Hollenberg who passed away on December 25th, 8 years ago. It was such an honor to remember and run for Steve so close to Christmas. Steve was only 62 when he passed. His neice Karen contacted me when she noticed I run all of my marathons now in honor of someone affected by Pancreatic Cancer. Karen even came out and ran 8 miles with me today. She is so awesome. Thank you Karen!   Steve was a devoted family man – he was so dedicated to his two children, He had three grandchildren and a fourth one born on his birthday, July 8th, after he passed away. He was a mentor to his children regarding their schooling, their careers and many other matters. In 1998, he retired from a 34 year career with GE. He was an electrical engineer by training, but specialized in technical marketing and rose to senior management levels with the company. He retired to the place of his dreams – a private golf course community where the weather was warm. He had the joy of having his daughter, son-in-law and then 1 year old granddaughter move to Savannah as well shortly before he passed away.