A supportive community made itself known as more than $13,000 was raised for the third annual Community Cancer Walk Saturday at Bronco Arena.
According to Julie Jaksa, one of the organizers of the walk, $8,100 of the total was raised at Saturday’s walk alone.
“We were pleased what a great turnout we had of walkers,” Jaksa said.
The Community Cancer Walk is the brainchild of a group of local residents — many of them cancer survivors — who saw a need in the community and wanted to make a difference, Wendy Mayer, one of the group’s organizers noted in a statement.
“Though we can’t do as much as we would like to make this process easier, we can do something,” Mayer said. “Rainy Lake Medical Center provides caring treatment, but there are some individuals who still must travel for radiation and other treatments.”
On Nov. 1, people who are traveling out of town to undergo cancer treatments can go to the radiation department at Rainy Lake Medical Center, and Betsy Loop, chemotherapy nurse and organizer, will give them a card.
“There are no questions asked,” Jaksa said of the process of picking up a card. “If you’re traveling for cancer reasons and a resident of Koochiching County, you’re able to get a gas card. We want everyone to take advantage of this program, it gives someone going through cancer more support and that’s the main reason we started doing this.”
Jaksa added that with the funds raised from this year’s walk, organizers hope each gas card will be worth $150 — last year, each card was worth $125.
She also said that organizers are always impressed with how the community comes together to support the walk to give out these gas cards.
“It’s important, too, that every penny we raise goes back to the community in Koochiching County,” Jaksa said. “But, it’s also a really special day, and a fun way to raise money.”
Jaksa continued that each of the organizers have battled cancer and know how much of a financial struggle it can cause.
“We just want to give back,” she said.
Yellow ribbons of hope lined the rink at Bronco Arena to honor cancer survivors or remember those who have passed on.
Although a number of events were taking place around the community Saturday, organizers agreed that they were happy to see the number of people — and dogs — turned out to support the cause.
Volunteers from the Borderland Humane Society brought several four-legged walkers to Saturday’s event.
“We thank the Borderland Humane Society for adding sparkle to our walk,” Jaksa said.
Jaksa concluded with a thank you to everyone who participated in the Community Cancer Walk by walking or donating and said the walk — and the resulting ability to help others — underscores lessons she has learned along the way.
“You just appreciate your life each and every day,” Jaksa she said. “In the three years that we’ve been doing this special event, we’ve raised over $40,000 to give back to our local community.”
People undergoing treatment for cancer who are seeking information about the gas cards may call Rainy Lake Medical Center at 283-4481, and ask for the Chemotherapy Department.
In addition to Jaksa, Mayer, and Loop, the founding group for the Community Cancer Walk includes Gina Rasmussen, Julie Johnson, Etta Jean Goulet, Karen Walls and Rachel Amdahl.
