Steven Christie and his dog Sunny took no ordinary walk in the park Saturday.
The pair were among the walkers at the Relay for Life of Koochiching County at Smokey Bear Park.
The event drew cancer survivors and their families, fundraising teams and others who have a connection with cancer.
Prior to the event, sisters Betty Peterson and Janet Roesler, sporting bright purple t-shirts proclaiming them “cancer heroes” or survivors, walked along the sidewalks at the park looking at the names on the more than 715 luminaries purchased by members of the community.
More than $21,000 was raised by the annual event this year, according to Emily Whitbeck, one of the organizers. And, she noted that more money is expected as donations are collected until the end of the month.
Peterson and Roesler said they believe, especially as survivors of cancer, it’s important to take part in the annual relay to help raise attention to the need to assisting people undergoing cancer treatment, and more money to research and ultimately a cure for the disease.
As Eric Hanson tossed a football at the park waiting for the welcoming ceremony to begin, his mom, Deanna Hanson, explained that Eric is a part of Team Alfred, named for his brother, who died eight years ago from cancer.
Deanna Hanson said Team Alfred has taken part in the relay event ever since.
“This helps raise funds so eventually down the road there will be a cure so someone else will not have to go through what we went through,” she said of her young son’s struggle and eventual death from the disease.
Team Alfred was among 11 teams that contributed to fundraising, with nine teams taking part in the walk. Teams represented people, such as Team Alfred and Team Blaine (Humbert, a young survivor), but also local businesses and services. And the event encouraged a friendly competition in fundraising among teams representing the International Falls Fire Department and the Falls Ambulance Service.
Wearing a bright pink team t-shirt, along with heavy firefighting pants, Fire Chief Jerry Jensen said most members of his department pledged $100 each, bringing the team’s total fundraising that day to $1,700.
Shawna Bolstad, captain of the ambulance team, said the relay offered a fun way to encourage creative ideas among the two services to raise funds.
As the day unfolded, Hudson Mann, 6, Riley Bilben, 10 and Jack Bilben, 6, played in a bounce house, while Paige Wold applied a temporary tattoo of a butterfly to Catie Norton’s cheek.
Whitbeck also represented the Rainy Lake Medical Center hospital campus team. She said the event drew great participants, including walking teams and vendors, giving the event more visibility to the downtown venue.
“We hope to see people stop and look at the luminaries,” she said.
The relay and society are not far behind developing a cure for cancer because of similar events held around the nation, she added.
The relay offers Whitbeck a personal way to get involved, she said, noting that many of her family and friends have been touched by cancer.
Bill Roeder and his wife Margaret each wore purple survivors shirts, and were recognized with other survivors at the welcoming ceremony.
Roeder said he had cancer seven years ago and his wife had two bouts 15 years ago.
The couple said it’s important to raise funds to assist people with cancer treatments that often force them to frequently travel to other communities, as well as to encourage volunteer drivers for people seeking treatment.
Laurie Humbert, chairwoman of the event, told during the ceremony of the emotions she felt when she was told in 2006 that her son, Blaine, had cancer.
“The word cancer is one you never want to hear,” she said. She compared the feeling to hanging on to a freight train as it runs along the tracks.
Shelly Bilben also described the feelings she had 13 months ago when her daughter Katlyn was diagnosed with cancer.
“They are vicious words: ‘your kid has cancer,’” which she said evoked fear, anger and questions.
Katlyn, she said, is now eight months into remission.
“She gets to go back to school after one year out,” Bilben said, causing the audience to applaud.
“She truly is the toughest person I know,” she said of her daughter.
And while Bilben said she has no regrets for the people her family met during her daughter’s intensive treatment, she said she would have gladly accepted having the cancer if it would have kept her daughter from experiencing it.
Humbert said the No. 1 reason she serves as chairwoman of the event is to help other families share their struggles.
Angele Hartell of the American Cancer Society said the relay and people involved in it are changing the world of cancer.
