We are excited to announced that the charity partner for this event is The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation!

Patient’s Story:
I was diagnosed with brain and spine cancer in July of 2022. Before I was diagnosed, I was a freshman in college. I was living independently in a dorm, meeting new friends, and working on my degree. I’ve always been a creative, energetic, and positive person. Qualities my cancer diagnosis can never take from me. In May of 2022, my younger sister was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She’s my best friend and it was the worst thing in the world watching her go through that, but she’s a fighter and beat it just months later in November. Throughout high school I experienced neck and shoulder pain as well as terrible headaches. It all started going downhill when the summer before my sophomore year, more symptoms popped up including blurry vision. I went to the ophthalmologist and they quickly suggested I go to the ER. I’d never been to the ER before so, rightfully so, I was so nervous. They did some scans and the hospital bed was horrible. The docs came back after what felt like forever and told me they found something in my brain. Everything escalated from there. Two weeks later and I had brain surgery to remove the tumor, a month or so later I started radiation therapy, and after I completed that, started chemotherapy. Through all of this craziness I was continuing my degree, but online. I was about to go back that spring which was amazing as I made some of my very best friends that semester since joining a sorority. For a while everything was shrinking and even clearing up (which doesn’t happen in tumors like mine). It felt like such a miracle. Now, I am about to start a clinical trial out of University of Michigan at Mott as new spots have started to show up. I have made it a goal to keep my spirits up by maintaining a positive attitude. I am blessed to have the most amazing friends and family ever who keep me lifted and loved. I will never let my diagnosis keep me from being the person I am and I am proud of myself for not letting my fight with cancer get me down.
What Nik’s wish are you thinking about and why?
I really would love to go to Universal Studios with my family because I love spending time with them and I’m OBSESSED with Harry Potter. I love the warm weather Florida has and roller coasters are my favorite.