Revolution welcomes young fan who helped design jerseys for Fight Childhood Cancer game

FOXBORO – The New England Revolution had a special guest on the field during practice Tuesday: a young fan who helped design the club's jerseys for next month's Fight Childhood Cancer game at Gillette Stadium.

This game will have special meaning for Brock Nowicki, a four-year-old from West Greenwich, Rhode Island. Brock was diagnosed with childhood brain cancer in 2023, and while undergoing treatment at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, he designed the special numbers for the special jerseys the Revolution will wear on September 28.

For Brock and his family – known as “Team Brockstar” – it's been quite a journey over the past two years. One day after his diagnosis, Brock underwent surgery to remove the tumor. One month later, he began chemotherapy, which ended in January 2024. Brock and his family then came to Boston for eight weeks of radiation therapy.

Brock is now cancer-free. Although he will undergo tests for the rest of his life, his family remains optimistic.

“He's doing great,” said Melissa Nowicki, Brock's mother. “Brock is very silly, very funny and he's maintained that even during his treatments.”

Brock particularly enjoyed the Izzy Foundation's room at Hasbro, which his mother called “The Busy Room.” The room offers a range of activities for children, including games and movies, and also provides support for patients' families.

There, patients were asked to help design the special numbers that would appear on New England's fight against pediatric cancer jerseys. Brock filled an 8×10 sheet with his design – which included a number of “Brockstars” – and it will now be incorporated into New England's numbers on Sept. 28.

Brock got his own Revs jersey with his design in yellow and white with the number 18 on the back. But that was only part of his very special day in Foxboro.

After presenting his draft to the team on Tuesday morning, Brock was brought onto the field by midfielder Ian Harkes and given the opportunity to kick the ball with the Revs. He then received a ball signed by the entire team at a meet-and-greet and had his photo taken with the club.

Brock and his family will be back in Foxboro next month for the Fight Childhood Cancer game against Nashville. Revolution head coach Caleb Porter said it was an honor to host Brock and his family on Tuesday.

“It puts things in perspective. We're fighting for the playoffs this year and it's been a long season. The guys have been through a lot of ups and downs,” Porter said. “But it's great to be reminded that life is more than a football game. Hearing Brock's story and the journey he's been on – brain cancer, chemotherapy and radiation as a 3-year-old, his family dealing with it – life is definitely more than football.

“To see this little boy make it, and he's a Revs fan – we made his dream come true today,” Porter added. “To be able to create a special day for Brock and his family today means a lot to us and puts life in perspective. It adds to our club and our goals with this club; to be in the community and do meaningful things for our fans' families.”

Brock's design will be auctioned off after the game, with all proceeds going to the Izzy Foundation.

“Hopefully we make a lot of money for the foundation and kids like Brock,” Porter said.