Utica Raises Money for Alumna: 19-Year-old Breast Cancer Survivor

Raising money for breast cancer has come full-circle for a 19-year-old Shelby Township survivor.

Nichole Forand was a student at a few years ago when the school started the first ever 20-minute dash during school hours to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The first Amazing Race proceeds were donated in honor of Utica English and newspaper teacher Stacy Smale’s mother, Jane Rousseau, after she lost her battle to breast cancer.

At the time, Forand was one of Smale’s students and editor of the school newspaper.

“I helped with the first Amazing Race. I was always at that school after hours and everything,” said Forand.

Now, just two years later, Forand is on the other end of the race, with all the proceeds from Utica’s Amazing Race donated in her name.

“When Stacy told me—I cried. I had no idea,” said Forand.  “She casually mentioned they were honoring me in the race.”

Here’s How The Amazing Race Works

The race will be held on Nov. 10 during third hour class. Students will raise funds before the event, and on the day of the race, each class will designate a runner. The runner will shuttle the classes’ proceeds down to a central location, where student council will be counting the money.

“I want people to realize—especially teens—that you’re not invincible. Everything can change," said Forand.

The runner, boy or girl, usually dressed in a crazy pink outfit, can rally his or her classmates to continue to donate or try other means, such as pleading with other teachers and the counseling center staff for money, said Smale.

At the end of 20-minutes, the class that raised the most money will be treated to a paid, off-campus lunch.

Student Council is also selling $10 T-shirts for the race.

Smale said the school is hoping to raise more than $7,000 in 20-minutes.

‘One Day at a Time’ is 19-year-old Breast Cancer Survivor’s Motto

“One day at a time. It sounds like an average, corny saying but someone told me that two days after I was diagnosed and it was the best advice I got through the whole thing,” said Forand.

On Aug. 30, 2011, Forand was delivered a blow. After a battery of tests doctors told her she had stage zero breast cancer. After a biopsy, doctors discovered the cancer was actually in the first stage, which means it has the potential to spread.

“That’s the youngest all my doctors have said they have ever heard a kid getting breast cancer,” said Forand.

Forand had a lumpectomy on Sept. 8. and will begin radiation therapy five times a week at the Josephine Ford Cancer Treatment.

“Technically I am cancer free,” Forand told Patch with enthusiasm in her voice.

Through the ordeal, Forand who works part-time as a nanny and started her first year of college at Macomb Community College, “never missed any significant amount of school because of it.”

Forand said she plans on transferring to Ohio State University next fall, where she will study English and follow in Mrs. Smale’s path by becoming a high school English teacher.

Cosmo May Have Saved this Teen’s Life

Forand said she discovered a pea-size lump in her breast during a self-exam.

 “I was reading Cosmo and they had stuff in there about self-examination and I thought, ‘well I should probably check that out.’”

There is no family history of breast cancer in Forand’s family, except for a great aunt.

Forand said having breast cancer at such a young age has forced her to grow up fast.

“I want people to realize—especially teens—that you’re not invincible. Everything can change," said Forand.