Pharmacy classmates remember Nickel

More than 45,000 runners are expected to participate in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Saturday, Oct. 12. University of Wisconsin–Madison student Sarah Balzar will have more on her mind that day than simply finishing with a fast time.

Balzar will be running in memory of her friend and classmate, Adam Nickel, a third-year UW–Madison doctor of pharmacy student who passed away suddenly after finishing the Little Rock, Ark., Marathon on March 2.

“He was extremely dedicated and put his heart into everything he did,” Balzar says. “It shows through his running and how he did in every race. In his fundraising, he met his goals. He had months to raise (money), but he was super passionate about getting it done early.”

At the time of his death, Nickel was training to run in the San Diego Marathon and was raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training (TNT) program to honor his grandmother. He was among the first members of the Madison TNT to reach his $3,800 goal, and he shared his success with friends in an e-mail the day before the Little Rock event.

With Nickel’s passion as her inspiration, Balzar has incorporated TNT charitable fundraising into her own training, raising $2,840. Additionally, a Remembering Adam Nickel Charity Bash on Sept. 19 raised more than $3,000. All of the proceeds from the event are going toward TNT and the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.

UW-Madison student Ashley Liegel will be running the race with Balzar. This will be her first marathon.

“I’m just expecting to finish it. No (projected) time,” Balzar says. “I don’t want to be the first, and I don’t want to be the last. Somewhere in the middle is just fine. I’ve always said Adam is the fast one.

“He always finished what he started, and he finished it strong,” she adds. “Finish what you start, and make sure you’re giving it your best the entire time. Even if your best is two hours slower.”

Cindy Nickel, Adam’s mother, says he would be both proud of his friends and overwhelmed by their efforts.

“I can just see him flash his smile and say, ‘Awesome!'” she says. “His biggest thing was to finish the race, do it to the best of his ability and enjoy the run. That goes for marathons, life and scholarships.”

Group Health Cooperative, where Nickel was doing his experimental education, donated $2,500 in his name to TNT.

For all of her work, Balzar has been honored by the School of Pharmacy as the first recipient of the recently established the Adam Nickel Memorial Scholarship, which was announced on Sept. 9.

“It is lovely to be recognized as someone who holds the same things in high regard that Adam did, specifically athletics, hard work and helping others,” she says. “Adam Alexander was such a great man and receiving a scholarship in his name so soon after his death is a great honor. He was a great friend who is greatly missed.”

School of Pharmacy Dean Jeanette Roberts was one of the first contributors to help establish the fund, and she says she hopes the Adam Nickel Memorial Scholarship Fund will continue to grow with additional donations, so that it can honor students like Balzar into the future. To receive a Nickel scholarship, pharmacy students must possess the following characteristics:

• A passion for athletics, exercise and their benefits to health
• Employment during pharmacy school in a clinical environment that puts learning into immediate action to help patients
• A commitment to helping others as evidenced by fundraising activities or community service.

In addition, students, staff and faculty have all contributed to the scholarship fund, as did the University of Arkansas School of Pharmacy.