Our Cause

Barb Murphy, wife of Runner in Red author, Tom Murphy, was a marathon runner. She had just set an age group record in 2007 when she was diagnosed with non-smoker’s lung cancer. Barb fought it bravely before she passed away in 2013. Lung cancer takes the lives for more women than any other cancer, and Barb’s form of it, “non-smoker’s lung cancer,” is on the rise.

The Murphy family created a foundation, The Runner in Red Foundation, to help find a cure.

The campaign includes Tom’s Runner in Red novel, a Boston Marathon mystery, the 5K race and a charity beer, Barb’s Beer – which is served at participating restaurants and taverns and is given out FREE to 5K runners at the finish line of Runner in Red races.

Funds from those three sources are used to support the Foundation’s lung cancer research and educational partners, led by cancerGRACE.org, a charity founded by Dr. Howard West, Barb’s oncologist and one of the country’s leading experts working for a cure.

Learn more about Barb’s story as a runner, her tireless work to create awareness and Barb’s Beer, the charity beer, at barbsbeer.org.