Team Nicole

Nicole Bills had participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure before, but she never thought that she would get breast cancer.  After all she was only 32 and had no family history of breast cancer.  She was busy working at Bank of America as a Senior Project Manager and planning a wedding to her fiancé, Steve Sivak.   She had just reserved a date for their destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico.  But she started to notice an indentation in her breast, just under her arm, when she was taking a shower or drying her hair.  She went to see her OBGYN, expecting him to say that it was nothing to be concerned about.   One week later she was diagnosed with Invasive Mammory Carcinoma.  The news came as a complete shock.

Nicole was fortunate that the tumor was detected early, Stage I.  She had a lumpectomy, then a follow-up surgery.  While she was out on medical leave, one of Nicole’s co-workers, Janelle Posthauer, formed  “EComm Team Nicole”.   Her team at Bank of America has rallied behind her and now has 74 Race for the Cure participants and has raised nearly $5000!  She returned to work just two weeks ago and her team had decorated her cube with balloons, flowers, and welcome signs.  “They’ve been fantastic”, says Nicole.  She is apprehensive about being back at work, especially since she just started chemo.  “It’s not fun to go through all this with people watching you.  There are about a hundred people on our EComm team.”  But you can be sure that “EComm Team Nicole” is doing everything they can to support her and keep her spirits up.  They are even planning a brunch in Team Village on Race Day.  “It’s bringing all of us together”, says Nicole.

Nicole is humbled by all the support and love she is receiving from friends, family, and co-workers.  Many of her family members are flying in to walk with her in Race for the Cure on October 2nd.  Her fiancé has been the biggest support of all.  “I initially felt sorry for myself”, she says.  Steve stepped up to make the necessary calls, do the research, and help to raise her spirits.  Her friends from the Bobcats, where she used to be one of the LadyCats, have also been a big help.  They started a Race for the Cure team for her as well called, “Dolla Dolla Bills”.  With all of this love around her, it is easy to see why Nicole is smiling again.  She is inspiring other women to take care of themselves too.  “So many women have come up to me to tell me that they are now paying closer attention and doing their monthly self breast exams.” 

Race for the Cure - Support Team Nicole