Each year during Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival, the Philadelphia Insurance Companies Valor Award is given to an athlete whose effort, determination and sportsmanship embodies the power of the human spirit to overcome challenges and inspire greatness.
We are so proud and honored to announce NICOLE HENDERSON from Team Area P is our 2024 Valor Award Winner!
We are deeply inspired by Nicole’s determination, hard work, and love of sport. Please help us congratulate Nicole on this incredible honor!
Nicole Henderson is a wife, daughter, coworker, teammate, and one heck of a Special Olympics Pennsylvania bocce player. But most of all, Nicole is a fighter.
In April of this year, Nicole was diagnosed with a large rare tumor in her Vagus Nerve, known as a Vagal Paraganglioma. It's located on the right side of her neck pressing on her jugular and involving the carotid artery.
On July 1, Nicole went in for a procedure to block blood vessels from the carotid so when the surgeons removed the tumor, it would lessen the risk of her bleeding out on the operating table. During the procedure, Nicole suffered two mini strokes which left her with severe left-side weakness from head to toe. The tumor removal did not happen.
No matter the setback, Nicole was determined and focused on making a full recovery in time for bocce season.