April 27, 2026
Congratulations to Bob Hall’s REquipment Racers and their devoted trainer, Coach Nikki Higgins, on an inspiring 130th Boston Marathon.
They did it. Each runner completed 26.2 miles, conquered Heartbreak Hill, and together raised $160,211 (and counting!) for REquipment—an achievement worthy of a race as challenging and iconic as Boston.
This was a truly special team, united by a shared commitment to our equipment reuse mission and to honoring Bob’s legacy. Although they may not have trained side by side, as half the team was spread across the country, with one member traveling all the way from Australia, they were remarkably in sync, with many crossing the finish line within moments of one another. They met personal goals and supported each other every step of the way.
Drew Jemeison, whose son uses assistive technology for communication, shared a simple but powerful message over social media at 7 a.m. the following morning:
“BOB, WE DID IT.”
It’s hard not to choke up reading that. Bob Hall had planned to be there, cheering on his inaugural charity team and placing medals around each runner’s neck as they crossed the finish line. But he passed away just eight days before race day. The loss was devastating for those who loved him, for this program, and for his runners.
Still, the team churned those feelings into yet more determination to make Bob proud.
He may no longer be with us, but it’s impossible not to feel that Bob was in Boston on Monday. He was with every wheelchair racer whose path was shaped by his groundbreaking efforts to bring the sport into the mainstream.
He was in the alloys of each set of wheels, his Hall’s Wheels legacy embedded in the very design and evolution of the sport.
And most of all, he was with his REquipment Racers, celebrating their dedication and collective impact: over $160,000 raised to help Massachusetts residents access the equipment they need for home, work, school, and community life.
We are deeply grateful to this team for carrying Bob Hall’s legacy forward with every mile and every dollar raised.
And to Coach Nikki Higgins—thank you for your incredible leadership and generosity. With more than 20 years of experience as a running coach, race coordinator, and community builder, Nikki has worked with athletes of all levels, from first-time runners to seasoned marathoners.
Her connection to REquipment is also deeply personal. Our program helped her mother maintain independence through access to wheelchair equipment when insurance would not cover it. Her father is also deeply involved in the disability community as Executive Director of Independence Associates—one of REquipment’s reuse partners as a drop-off location for equipment. Nikki and her family have long supported REquipment’s mission, making her an especially meaningful leader for this team.
We are also incredibly grateful to the 892 supporters who donated to this campaign. You were the wind at our runners’ backs.
Thank you as well to our sponsors, Lynn Products, Inc., Not Impossible Labs, and Northeastern University BONES, for helping make this journey possible.
And finally, we send this message out into the universe:
Thank you, Bob.
You broke barriers for athletes and transformed what is possible for people with disabilities around the world. You are deeply missed, and your legacy will continue to move us forward every single day.
