Team Nicholas 5K Brings hope to families

Joliet based charity, Team Nicholas, brings joy and comfort to critically ill children and their families in honor of their young son who lost his life to complications from cancer treatment.  The second annual Team Nicholas “I’m Possible” 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held on Sunday September 22, 2013 at St. Joe’s Park in Joliet.  The CARA certified race begins at 8:30 am followed by music, activities, raffles and a special appearance by Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers.  Race registration is online at https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/91890/SMUCalendar.   Entry fees are $30 for adults and $10 for children 5 to 14.  All proceeds go to helping local families and hospitals bringing joy into critically ill children’s lives.

Nicholas’ Story…

Nicholas was a bright, fun loving, energetic 8 year old boy who loved playing outside with friends, football, Star Wars and building Legos.  The Joliet family was like every other family until Nicholas began feeling ill and went to the doctor for tests.  The Veghts’ family life changed forever with one phone call on July 4, 2011.  Your son has leukemia.  Nicholas was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia containing both ALL and AML cells.  The family checked into Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago and began cancer treatment.

Over the next 4 months, Nicholas received intensive treatment.  Thanksgiving came and the Veghts’ received the best news,  Nicholas was in remission.  They still had a long road of treatment ahead, but the family could breathe a little easier for the first time since July.  Unfortunately, Nicholas developed a fever a few days after Thanksgiving and went back into the hospital.  The fever became pneumonia and complications arose, he entered the pediatric intensive care unit.  There he spent the next 13 weeks fighting for his life.

During a very rough week a friend of Joanna’s sent her the Audrey Hepburn quote “You cannot spell impossible without I’m Possible.”  That became the motto for the family.  Joanna made a sign for the door to Nicholas’ PICU room as a reminder to everyone that if Nicholas keeps fighting we will too.  Nicholas lost his battle on February 28, 2012.  The sign that Joanna made has been shared with other PICU families at Comer as a source of hope.

About Team Nicholas…

The family founded Team Nicholas, a 501c3, in Nicholas’ honor to bring comfort to families facing the toughest battle of their lives.  Since its founding, Team Nicholas has provided over 700 families with comforts (some big and some small).  They have provided 100 families of critically ill children, air mattresses to help get some rest among the lights, monitors, blips and buzzes of an ICU room.  Each month, a donation is made to the patients and families at Comer Children’s hospital and to local hospitals.  For more information about Team Nicholas or to donate or volunteer visit us on Facebook at Team Nicholas or at www.teamnicholas.org.