The Mill Towns Race Series supports the work of Project Purple, a nonprofit organization that funds critical research to develop a means for early detection of pancreatic cancer and patient aid. Project Purple's primary fundraising means is as a charity partner to endurance events, including all 7 of the 7 world major marathons. Project Purple teams run marathons and half marathons in some of the country's most prestigious races (New York, Chicago, Boston, Twin Cities) as well as the Berlin and London marathons. And just announced, the nonprofit will field teams for Sydney, the newest world major marathon, in 2025, and Tokyo in 2026!

Since its founding in 2010, Project Purple had funded more than $3 million in research and provided more than $1 million in aid to help patients cover medical bills, utilities, housing and food costs while undergoing treatment. 

Pancreatic cancer has a 5-year survival rate of just 13 percent. It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in Minnesota, primarily because most people are diagnosed at stage 4, after the disease has spread beyond the pancreas.