Fundraiser Will Raise Money to help Former Watertown Firefighter Fight Cancer

Two former Watertown High School field hockey players plan to run the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco in honor of former-firefighter Michael Nicholson, who is battling leukemia.

Kim McGinness and Kayla Romanelli will host a fundraiser at on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Nicholson was a Watertown firefighter for almost 30 years, and two years ago he learned he had blood cancer.

"Although we are facing the challenge of running 26.2 miles this is nothing compared to the physical and emotional side effects of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant that Michael has had to go through. We are running this in honor of him and for all of those who are and have struggled with blood diseases," Romanelli and McGinness wrote on their webpage.

The pair formed Michael's Girls through Team in Training to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The race will be held Oct. 16 in San Francisco, and the duo has set out to raise $6,500.

Thursday's event will feature raffles for prizes such as Red Sox tickets, gift certificates to local businesses and more.