Project Purple picks up the pace

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BEACON FALLS — A local man is going the extra mile to raise money for his nonprofit organization this year.

Dino Verrelli, a Beacon Falls resident and founder and CEO of Project Purple, will run three marathons in under a month to help raise funds for his charity.

Verrelli will run the Chicago Marathon Oct. 12, the Marine Corps Marathon Oct 26 and the New York Marathon Nov. 2.

“I will complete the grand slam of marathons in seven months,” Verrelli said, pointing out that he ran the Boston Marathon in April.

Verrelli started the charity in 2010 after his father passed away from pancreatic cancer.

Verrelli took up running to help him cope with his father’s illness and decided to incorporate it into a nonprofit organization to help raise money and awareness for pancreatic cancer.

“Why would I want to run all these marathons? Partly because of what running has been able to do for me and what it means to me. It’s not about the medals. It’s something that’s really special because of what I went through and it was there for me,” Verrelli said.

All of the money Verrelli and those who run for Project Purple raise will go back to the charity, which helps fund research for pancreatic cancer.

“We’re excited. This year has been a record year for us already. Last year we raised $235,000. Already we’ve raised $284,000 as of [Oct. 2],” Verrelli said.

Verrelli said the charity is on pace to raise $400,000 before the end of the year.

While Verrelli is pleased to have raised so much money for his cause, he knows it will not be easy to finish the goals he set for himself.

“The next eight weeks are hectic with the races and fundraising,” Verrelli said. “I try not to think about it too much. I just put my head down and go because we have things to do, we have goals to accomplish, and we have to get for race day.”

Verrelli, who did the Marine Corps Marathon and the New York Marathon last year, said he wanted to run these marathons this year because his father always taught him to lead by example.

“I think it’s really hard if I can’t walk in your shoes and say ‘we’d love for you to run for Project Purple. You’re going to run the New York City Marathon. We’re asking you to raise $3,500, train for a marathon and have a job, and this is what you should do and this is how you should ask people for a donation.’ If I don’t know how that feels or if I’m not in the trenches with you battling, then I think I’d have a really hard time making recommendations. I think that’s really important, and I think that’s what makes us different,” Verrelli said.

Project Purple will end the year strong by hosting its first 5K race on Nov. 22 in New York City.

Verrelli said the organization partnered with the New York Flyers Running Club, which is one of the largest running clubs in the city, for the 5K. The race will honor one of the club’s members who died from pancreatic cancer and raise money to combat the disease.

Verrelli said information about the upcoming race can be found at www.run4projectpurple.org.