Mansfield Woman Takes on Brown Stadium in Memory of Her Dad

Nicole Reynolds remembers her dad as a kind, funny, “everybody’s buddy” kind of guy. When she lost him to lung cancer in October 2015, she vowed to keep his memory alive and honor his legacy by fighting back against the disease that took him

Paul "Smitty" Smith spent his life in Massachusetts. He grew up in Mansfield and then lived in Falmouth, where he worked as a contractor for 35 years. In October 2014, Paul came down with a severe headache which led to the discovery of tumors in his brain and lungs. Within weeks he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, first rendering him unable to work, and then taking his life within a year.

Paul’s life, although only 59 years, had a profound effect on family and friends. He is described as the family her and “anchor” – a sentiment reflected in the tattoos Nicole and her loved ones got in his honor. His work ethic and can-do attitude, as well as his love of camping and the outdoors continue to inspire Nicole to this day – and have served as motivation to challenge herself with the American Lung Association’s Second Annual Stadium Step Up presented by MetLife Auto & Home at Brown Stadium in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, August 19.

“My dad never let anything get in his way, and always tried to live life to the fullest,” Nicole remarked. “Whenever I go camping, or sit by a fire, I can feel my dad with me. I know that when I run up the steps of that stadium he’ll be with me too, cheering me on. Cancer may have taken him from me, but that doesn’t mean we stop fighting.”

“I hear stories like Nicole and Paul’s – that involve a late stage diagnosis - far too often,” said Jeff Seyler, Executive Vice President, Northeast Region of the American Lung Association. “Events like the Stadium Step Up go a long way to build awareness and funding – so that more people can seek out screenings earlier, which may very well save their lives. Having Nicole here with us to share her story and her love for her dad means so much to us - and we hope it inspires more people to talk to their loved ones about lung cancer.”

The American Lung Association’s Second Annual Stadium Step Up event at historic Brown Stadium in Providence, Rhode Island will take place on Saturday, August 19 from 9am-12pm. The event is one of several stair climbing training opportunities led by the American Lung Association, and will give participants the opportunity to test their fitness level by climbing through the stadium’s grandstand at one of several different challenge levels.

Nicole and her best friend formed team Smitty/Papi Strong to honor both of their fathers who died from lung cancer. With support of their friends and family, the team will complete their first Stadium Step Up after having completed the Fight For Air Climb at the Omni Hotel this past March. You can support their team by donating here.

This event is a fresh twist on the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb events which take place in prominent skyscrapers, stadiums, or arenas and involve walking, running, or racing up hundreds of steps. Sometimes called a "vertical road race," teams and individual participants participate to reach a fitness target, to challenge themselves in a unique race, to be active and meet new friends, and most importantly, to support the lifesaving mission of the American Lung Association. The Stadium Step Up Event will also serve as a training opportunity for those planning to participate in the 2018 Fight for Air Climb at the Omni Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island next March.

Those with questions about Stadium Step Up or the Fight for Air Climb can contact ProvClimb@LungNE.org. To find out more about the event and to choose your challenge, visit Action.Lung.org/StadiumStepUp