Alexandra Sorrentino, DNP, a nurse practitioner in the outpatient melanoma clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital, is determined to make a difference, so on race day as she sets out to run the Boston Marathon, she will be wearing red tights. Red, she says, was the favorite color of her brother Robert, who died at 4 years old from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“Oncology has been a part of my world for as long as I can remember, starting when my brother got sick,” says Alexandra. “Before cancer, he was so full of life; he was into Batman and Power Rangers, he was always chatty and outgoing. But he never got the chance to grow up.”
Robert’s loss is a red thread woven throughout the fabric of her life. It seeded a desire to make an impact and contributed to her choosing a career in oncology.
“In my job, I am continuously reminded of the resilience and bravery inside each one of us,” she says. “I see my patients frequently over an extended period and I get to know who they are outside of their diagnosis. The long-term relationship allows us to build trust. It is so fulfilling when I see that trust present itself, and I see the comfort it brings patients during one of the darkest chapters of their lives. When that happens, I feel like what I do really matters — it reinforces my resolve.”
“I have personally and professionally witnessed the outstanding care Mass General provides. I see how committed my own team is to making our patients feel supported and well cared for. I know their expertise and empathy is what makes cancer care at Mass General exceptional, and I have seen the results in my own family. I am honored to run on the hospital’s behalf.”
A New Perspective
Both in her clinical role and at home, Alexandra felt profoundly familiar with cancer. She gained a deeper perspective, however, in 2023. In a disconcerting turn of events, her father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and she had to watch a family member battle cancer once again.
The experience, she says, was emotionally overwhelming. Alexandra needed an outlet and turned to running to cope. She hit the road to decompress and kept running throughout her father’s treatment at Mass General.
Once the prescribed care was complete, Alexandra’s family received the good news: It had been a success, and her dad was now in remission and able to move forward with the maintenance portion of treatment. The running, however, remained so Alexandra signed up for the 2025 Mass General Marathon Team in a move that combined both sides of her cancer experiences — clinician and family member.
“I have personally and professionally witnessed the outstanding care Mass General provides,” says Alexandra. “I see how committed my own team is to making our patients feel supported and well cared for. I know their expertise and empathy is what makes cancer care at Mass General exceptional, and I have seen the results in my own family. I am honored to run on the hospital’s behalf.”
Finding Comfort and Purpose in Fundraising
Alexandra is working toward her fundraising goal by partnering with area businesses on a 50-50 raffle, holding a charity yoga class and utilizing social media. She speaks to the impact Mass General’s cancer programs have on patients through her firsthand experience, inspiring her community to give back to the hospital she loves.
“Every time someone donates, I remember I am not alone. So many people have been touched by cancer,” she says. “For me, going through this process to fundraise and train is a way to honor my father and to keep my brother’s memory alive. It’s taking these sad experiences and turning them into something good.”
On race day, in addition to her red tights, Alexandra will wear photos of her brother and father pinned to her shirt to serve as motivation, especially as she tackles the hard parts of the course. But as she honors the past, she will also run towards the finish line — a full circle moment that will represent the future Mass General offers to so many families.
If you would like to support Alexandra, click here.
To learn more about Mass General’s marathon team, click here.
