Heather Pierce of Dorchester grew up playing youth hockey in the neighborhood and went on to become a Division 1 defenseman at Northeastern University. Now that she’s “done with hockey,” the 29-year-old new mother has traded in her skates for sneakers as she prepares to compete in April’s 128th Boston Marathon in a special capacity: as a running guide for Hannah DeFelice, who is deaf and blind.

The team will be racing in support of The Play Brigade, a non-profit that advocates for disability equity and inclusion in healthcare, education, and recreation. As a supplement to that support, Pierce is holding an ice-skating fundraiser this Saturday (Jan. 13) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Devine Rink in Neponset.

Pierce, who studied American Sign Language and English interpretation at Framingham State University, works at The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, which is where she met DeFelice.

“Hannah ran cross country at UMaine so that’s how we kind of bonded, because we were both college athletes,” said Pierce. “That’s how we first became friendly and then we were like ‘Oh, we should do the marathon’ and then we got accepted by Play Brigade.”  
The Brigade was founded by Dawn and Justin Oates, who were inspired to help kids and people with disabilities when their third child, Harper, was born with a debilitating spinal cord injury.

“It’s not just about little kids and playgrounds, [it’s] about teaching communities what true inclusion is,” said Dawn, “and how they can take steps in whatever area they are in to be more inclusive, to create a world that is more welcoming and wanting to support people with and without disabilities.”

DeFelice is living proof that people with disabilities can do many things if they set their minds to the tasks. And as her guide, Pierce helps her overcome the barriers that exist in an able-bodied world.

“When you’re running as a guide you’re just on the entire time,” she said. “There’s a puddle, there’s a curb, you have to signify that there’s a step, there’s a dog. It’s crazy but it makes the run go by really fast for me because my brain is on the entire time. I’m always looking for the next hazard.”

When running, Hannah and Heather the teammates communicate by tactile signing and using a tether. “The way she prefers to communicate with me,” said Pierce, “is that when she’s running, I’ll use a little bit of tactile sign language, use my hand on her shoulder to show there’s a step ahead. And we have a tether that we run with. If I pull it in a certain way she knows how to move. We’re almost creating our own signs.”

Unlike her partner, Pierce has had no race experience. “I really enjoy being a guide runner. It’s just been a different experience for me because I’ve always been training to be a better hockey player,” she said. “I’m done with hockey and I’m trying a whole new career and I’m a new mom trying to find myself again. Having someone to run with and have a teammate again and just be a part of something, I’ve been really enjoying that.”

Pierce and DeFelice typically complete their long runs on Saturdays, and this coming one is special with the Devine Rink fundraiser.

“I really wanted to make this event replicate what we’re trying to do on a larger scale. I reached out to friends who will be volunteer interpreters. I reached out to some of my hockey friends who are going to be guide skaters,” Pierce said. “I reached out to DCR and to the state to make sure there are sleds there for any wheelchair users. I really went the extra mile to show that if we just work hard and come together, we can make events more accessible.”

Dawn Oates is happy to see the pair running and recognizes the importance of their fundraising event.  “We need this marathon team,” she explained. “This is our primary mode of funding so that we can keep doing the work we do.”

Those interested in participating on Saturday can find tickets on Eventbrite or Venmo at $10 per ticket to @hmottau26, or pay at the door. In addition to ASL interpreters, guide skaters, sleds, and crates, participants can also rent skates for free. Attendees do not need prior skating experience, and all are welcome. 

All proceeds from the event will be donated to The Play Brigade. Pierce and DeFelice hope that by Marathon Monday (April 15) they will have raised $10,000.