Banding Together for a Former Colleague Diagnosed With Cancer
Bell Bank employees joined forces to help a former co-worker diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
Bell Employee
Tiffany Tessmer
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Recipient
Amy Suek
The Need
In October of 2015, Amy Suek, a former Bell employee, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was only 27 years old. Tiffany Tessmer, who works as a mortgage accountant in Bell’s Colonnade branch, knew she had to help.
“She has a way of making you feel incredibly special, especially on days when you’re not feeling so special,” Tiffany said. “We weren’t just co-workers anymore; we were friends.”
The Impact
Tiffany rallied 35 Bell Bank employees, who pooled their Pay It Forward funds to give Amy $32,500 to cover her medical costs, lost wages and whatever else she needed. They also made Amy an encouraging video – something she re-watched during her more difficult days.
In April, Amy learned she had no evidence of cancer.