Harwich Port Resident Runs Falmouth Road Race For Hyannis Youth

HARWICH PORT – Craig Nichols was ready for a new chapter.

As he started thinking about approaching his retirement from IBM, the 64-year-old Harwich Port resident began considering options that might keep him busy.

Nichols, a Rehoboth native, began his career as an adapted physical education teacher and always had a passion for sports and mentoring young children before transitioning into technology, so it was natural for him to consider getting involved with kids after retiring.

“I was saying, ‘I’m going to be retiring, what am I going to do? Am I going to get a part-time job or what am I going to do?’” Nichols said. “I thought about going back and teaching after having a taste of it at the start of my career – maybe I could go back and become a part-time substitute teacher or see if I could do some coaching.”

When Nichols discovered there were nearly 100 children and teens waiting to be matched with mentors on the Cape and Islands, he instantly realized Big Brothers Big Sisters was the right path for him. The end result has been nothing short of magical for Nichols, who was paired with Matthew, a nine-year-old boy from Hyannis who had been on the organization’s waiting list for more than four years.

The pair recently celebrated their one-year anniversary as Big and Little, an experience that has seen the duo spend quality time together while attending Boston sports games, fishing, attending Harwich Mariners games and taking advantage of the countless social events and activities that are offered to Big Brothers Big Sisters throughout the Cape and Islands.

“I’ve really taken advantage of what Big Brothers Big Sisters, especially on the Cape, can offer,” Nichols said. “They send out a newsletter with all of the activities that you can physically do, so I really got involved and took him to activities. A lot of them were arts and crafts, pottery, woodworking – anything that someone was offering, we went to on the Cape.”

Over the weekend, Nichols was one of 29 runners who represented Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands in the Falmouth Road Race, a seven-mile run that travels along Falmouth’s picturesque coastline.

Although Nichols had run the race a handful of times in his 20s, returning to Falmouth was a new challenge that he was prepared to tackle for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“Back in the day, I raced a lot of 10Ks just to stay healthy and active,” Nichols said. “It was definitely recreation running, but I loved the Cape and ran Falmouth for probably five consecutive years. I always loved that race and then I saw they were looking for Bigs to run on the Big Brothers Big Sisters team.”

Nichols received widespread support from his family and friends, raising more than $1,600 to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. Running the race also served as the perfect setting for him and Matthew to celebrate their anniversary and all of the growth both of them have experienced since they were paired.

“One thing that always sticks in my mind is his mom always tells me how much he’s improved in school,” Nichols said. “His confidence, his involvement, getting in open discussions and his grades have improved dramatically. If he didn’t have a father figure or his mother didn’t enroll him, would he ever reach his full potential? I see him doing that and I want to be by his side as long as he needs me.”

The mentorship program has also benefited Nichols, who has two grown adult children. He raves about Matthew’s personality, his intellect and the strides he has made since they first met when Matthew was eight.

“I feel already, in one year, that I have another son,” Nichols said. “I truly fell in love with the kid. He’s kind, he’s athletic, he’s well-spoken, he’s intelligent and he’s fun to be around. I’ve watched him change from the time I met him about a year and two months ago.”

While Nichols’ story shines a light on the magic of Big Brothers Big Sisters, it’s also a reminder that there is much more work to be done. There is still a shortage of mentors on the Cape, and Nichols is eager to encourage other adults to consider joining the program.

“There’s still a ridiculous shortage on the Cape,” Nichols said. “I saw an article that said in one town – I want to say Dennis – has 13 kids on the waiting list. People might think about the risks, but when you see the smile on the kid’s face and you see how excited he is to do anything, it is worth it all.”

Visit bbbs.org for more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters. People can donate to Nichols’ Falmouth Road Race fundraiser at tinyurl.com/y8hfp3dj.