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Team Weinstein Warriors at PanCAN PurpleStride 2025.
Rita Weinstein had a way of bringing people together. She built a “troop” of family and friends who showed up for one another, and her, through every high and low of her journey with pancreatic cancer. She reminded everyone around her to find joy where you can, speak your mind and never miss a moment that matters.
PanCAN and PanCAN PurpleStride were especially close to Rita’s heart. With her family and friends, they started the team Weinstein Warriors four years ago. They are currently the number one PurpleStride 2026 fundraising team in the nation, raising more than $155,000 so far to help patients and families get the support they need.
Sadly, Rita passed away earlier this year, but legacy lives on. In the Q&A below, Rita’s daughters, Marcy, Marla and Marni, share what made her so special and how they’re carrying her spirit forward through PurpleStride.
How did you get connected to PanCAN?
Our mother was diagnosed on a Friday night, so we felt completely lost and desperate! Knowing that we would not be able to speak to doctors until Monday, we spent the weekend researching pancreatic cancer treatments. So, when I stumbled on the PanCAN site, I immediately felt empowered by the clinical trials, survivor stories and support care.
Can you share a bit about your mom, Rita, and how she exemplified what a warrior was?
(L-R) Marcy’s husband Jeff; Marcy; Rita; her husband, Stan; Marla and Marni – taken before Rita was diagnosed.
Even before our mom got sick, she found the best in each day as she cherished each family moment. On the weekend of her diagnosis, she also found out that her granddaughter was pregnant, so she was being “promoted to GREAT-Grandma” with her first great-grandchild. So, the fight began!
She got to have many family moments, like playing with her great-grandson for three years, then walking down the aisle at her grandson’s wedding, seeing another granddaughter get engaged and watching two other grandsons graduate.
And three and a half years later, on the very week before her passing, she was handed a new ultrasound picture and saw that a new great-grandchild was now on the way!
You’ve chosen PurpleStride as one way to honor your mom – what attracted to you the event, and what keeps you coming back each year?
We were proud to walk with our mom for the past three years, and she was inspired by walking with others who were fighting as she was, by the support of the survivors and by the friendship of the families who were honoring their loved ones.
Your team’s fundraising has been extraordinary – what strategies or moments made the biggest difference in reaching your goal?
On stage at PanCAN PurpleStride.
Our fundraising efforts were such a major success because everyone loved our mom and wanted to be a part of The Weinstein Warriors. We sent emails and posted on social media, but the real success was because of who she was and because our parents together fought this battle and everyone also loves our dad – one of the best ways to honor either of them was with a donation to fight this insidious disease.
How has being part of PurpleStride shaped your sense of community or connection with others affected by pancreatic cancer?
Our mom was generous, compassionate and a fighter, so everyone in her orbit felt immediately empowered. As soon as anyone had a loved one diagnosed, they would reach out to her for support, treatment information and caring.
What would you say to someone who’s thinking about joining PurpleStride but hasn’t signed up yet?
Join the fight! Walk!! It’s an inspiring morning and incredibly moving experience to see survivors, those fighting or families who have suffered come together for such a meaningful cause. TOGETHER we can – hopefully – end pancreatic cancer.
