Nicolette Deveau has run 5Ks and 10Ks, and even climbed into a boxing ring, to raise money for the fight against cancer — all to honor her late 5-year-old son, Reggie, whom she calls her “Superman.” In 2016, she joined the MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) Boston Marathon team — her first time running the legendary race.
Reggie was just 3 when diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that typically originates in the adrenal glands. During his 18-month battle with the disease, Reggie was treated at MGHfC and was paired with a marathon runner from the hospital’s team. He and his family watched the race and proudly waved signs to encourage his designated runner. This year, his mom ran in tribute to him, cheered on by his grandmother and his 7-year-old sister.
Thanks to John Hancock, every year Mass General receives charity numbers for runners like Nicolette. Since the pediatric team was established in 1998, runners have raised more than $11 million to support pediatric cancer research and child life activities for patients.
“Some people run marathons because they love to run and want to conquer those crazy Boston Marathon hills. Others run because it means so much to them. Nicolette Deveau is one of those people,” says one nominator. “From boxing matches to the Boston Marathon, she truly embodies the Mass General Marathon Team motto of ‘Fighting Kid’s Cancer… One Step at a Time.’”
