Cancer survivor runs Boston Marathon 1 year after diagnosis

A cancer survivor took on the Boston Marathon on Monday.

"This has been a year-long journey going from diagnosis to where we're at today."

At the 25th mile-marker, Jim Weber looked a lot like most exhausted runners in the final wave of the Boston Marathon, but the embrace shared between him and his wife meant more than nearing the end of a 26 mile journey.

More than a year ago, Weber was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. 

"Ninety-five percent of my bone marrow was cancerous plasma," Weber said.

He wouldn't have known he was sick if he wasn't training for his very first marathon at the age of 49. 

"I started training. I was up to ten, twelve miles, and all of a sudden, I couldn't run half a mile."

The diagnosis marked the end of Weber's dreams for a marathon in 2015, but he knew he'd run in 2016. 

"Being physically active when you have cancer to me was the most important thing."

Weber decided he'd run the Boston Marathon in 2016 to raise money for the multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, or MRF. The team wasn't so sure he'd be ready, but after months of chemo and transplants, Weber was in remission and taking steps to find a cure. 

"You have a choice every day when you wake up. You can wake up with a smile or you can wake up mad at the world," said Weber.

Weber started asking friends to donate to MRF. In exchange, he'd run 26.2 miles while still undergoing chemo treatments every two weeks. 

For patients like Weber, it's critical to find a cure, no matter how much effort it takes. 

"You want to lay in bed, there are days you don't want to get up. But it's so critical to stay active."