'True strength through struggle' — Runners give cancer patients a leg up with daylong trek of iconic 'Rocky' steps

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Athletes ran the iconic “Rocky Steps” for a full day this weekend to help cancer patients.

Running the steps has been a tourist bucket-list tradition for decades, ever since Sylvester Stallone did it in the 1976 film that started the “Rocky” franchise — but nonprofit Legacy of Hope has taken it to a new level.

“We have 32 amazing athletes who are climbing the steps for 24 continuous hours to fundraise for cancer patients in our city,” said Gina Mancuso with Legacy of Hope. She said the run is in its seventh year.

More than 30 runners started the daylong trek up and down the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Saturday at 9 a.m., and they stopped on Sunday at 9 a.m.

Mancuso, who is one of those athletes, says the money they raise will go to help patients who are going through cancer treatments and are struggling to meet their most basic needs.

“It’s just being able to provide support to get food on the table for cancer patients and their families.”

Mancuso says the mentally and physically taxing run has already raised more than $175,000, but they’re not done yet.

“People can still make donations for another two weeks or so. Our goal is to be over $188,000.”

Runner Joe Rinaldi, who ran more than 70 miles worth of steps, says every step was worth it.

“My motto is: Do hard things. I have it tattooed on my chest, and I believe we find true strength through struggle,” Rinaldi said. “So, I wanted to come out and do something hard for those who don’t have a choice in the hard that they’re facing.”

He says he raised more than $6,000 and, for him, the run is a reminder to always look for a light in the dark.

“A little stiff, a little painful, but honestly I’m just so grateful to be out here that that just overrides everything else that I’m feeling,” he said. “Life is so much bigger than any one of us, and so it’s really, really awesome when we can come together for a cause like this.”