How a cancer diagnosis led this 23-year-old to the Boston Marathon

"I like to say that my time at MGH was the easiest hard time I have ever gone through."

Nathanael "Smiley" Gomes Tejeda. Nathanael "Smiley" Gomes Tejeda.

March 10, 2025

2 minutes to read

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston.

Name: Nathanael “Smiley” Gomes Tejeda
Age: 23 years old
Location: Nashua, New Hampshire

My name is Nathanael, but most people call me by my nickname, Smiley. In 2019, at 17 years old, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As a senior in high school, there was lots of uncertainty and fear after being diagnosed with cancer. I was quickly admitted as a patient at MGH in the Pediatric Oncology Clinic, where I was treated with the best care. They made a very terrible set of circumstances feel like a walk in the park. A walk that no kid should ever have to endure. But for those who do, they deserve the same care and support I was lucky to receive, plus some. I like to say that my time at MGH was the easiest hard time I have ever gone through. That is all thanks to my oncologists and the great support staff working together to make the given circumstances the best they could be. I love running for a cause that did so much for me.

To run my first marathon in Boston through MGH is an extreme honor. As many kids in my position do, I was partnered with a runner in 2019. Her name was Eva. She was a role model to me, and I aspired to follow in her footsteps, quite literally! These kids deserve the world and have so much ahead of them. As a pair, we show them the limits of what the human body is capable of, while they show us what they are able to endure week after week with a smile on their face. We are capable of so much more than we can imagine.

The MGH Pediatric Oncology crew gave me a new lease on life. I hope to contribute to its success in doing the same for other kids.

With that said, I hope you can join me in raising funds for Massachusetts General Hospital, a charity dedicated to providing exceptional patient care, research and education. Your donation will make a difference in the lives of many individuals in need of medical assistance.