April 27 and 28 in Borderland will be a weekend of walking, fundraising and supporting causes that benefit area residents. The annual Relay for Life and Christian Rural Overseas Program, known as the CROP walk, are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and organizers for both events are optimistic for a good turnout.

Relay for Life

Members of the community connected by the hope to beat cancer will gather at Rainy River Community College at 2 p.m. April 27.

Money raised by the event is given back to the local fight against cancer, said Denae Alamano, community relations for the Midwest Division of the American Cancer Society.

Relay for Life, a national cancer walk, brings together cancer survivors and supporters from around the country to raise money for and awareness of the fight for a cure.

This year, Alamano said a 5-kilometer race will add to the festivities in an effort to include more people in the relay. The race will begin at 9 a.m. at Rainy River Community College. The cost to take part in the race is $25 and participants can register at 8 a.m. that morning. A pre-registration form with instructions is also available online at www.relayforlife.org/koochichingmn.

In addition to the race, the day will include:

  • 2 p.m. – opening ceremony
  • 3 p.m. – birthday booth with activities
  • 4 p.m. – bake walk
  • 5 p.m. – scooter relay
  • 6 p.m. – celebrity pie
  • 7 p.m. – karaoke
  • 8 p.m. – kiss the pig
  • 8:30 p.m. – luminary ceremony
  • 9:30 p.m. – closing ceremony
According to relayforlife.org, the luminary ceremony is an opportunity for Relay for Life participants and donors to remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those battling the disease by dedicating luminaria bags.

Each luminaria is personalized with a name, photo, message or drawing in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Luminaria can also be dedicated in support of a Relay participant. Each luminaria candle represents a person. They are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, coworkers and so many others, the site said. 
 
Luminaria bags can be purchased at www.relayforlife.org/koochichingmn.

As of this week, 10 teams have signed up for the event, and more are welcome to register before April 27, Alamano said.

Teams are busy fundraising for the event, including the International Falls fire/rescue/EMS Relay for Life team, which is hosting a free-will offering pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. April 20 at the fire station, located at 600 Fourth St.

Other teams and participants are gathering donations through the local Relay site. As of Tuesday, the resident who has raised the most is Teresa Rom with $305 and the top team is the Falls fire/rescue/EMS with $355, according to the site.  

Alamano said in addition to the annual events at the Koochiching County relay, the 100th birthday of the American Cancer Society will also be celebrated.

Each year, the Koochiching County relay aims to raise as much money as possible, but particularly strives to beat the previous year. Last year, the event raised about $12,000 – about $8,000 short of the $20,000 goal. This year, Alamano said the goal of raising $20,000 has been set again and holding the event in April instead of August will hopefully help.

“(We're) just trying all avenues to get the community more involved,” she said of switching the month of the event.

Alamano encouraged members of the community to become involved with Relay for Life to support the American Cancer Society and help people celebrate more birthdays.

“Not only is the American Cancer Society involved in every form of cancer pre screening and many cancer drugs, we also help local cancer patients receive free lodging and transportation when going through treatments,” she said.

She added that in 2012, the American Cancer Society spent about $25,000 on cancer-related treatment, care and transportation for residents of Koochiching County.

“Fortunately, the American Cancer Society does not keep all its money locally,” she said. “If they would have done that, there would have been many cancer patients who would not have benefited from our services last year ... we need Koochiching's help to make a difference, find a cure and fight back against cancer.”

To donate, register a team or find out how to get involved, visit www.relayforlife.org/koochichingmn.

CROP walk

A long line of walkers is expected to be seen between Smokey Bear Park and Ranier April 28 for the local CROP walk, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The event will help raise funds for Church World Service and other designated international agencies for relief and development programs, with 25 percent of money raised kept locally to be divided between the Falls Hunger Coalition and Salvation Army.

According to the CROP website, http://hunger.cwsglobal.org, each year, more than 2,000 communities across the U.S. join in more than 1,600 CROP Hunger Walks. More than five million CROP Hunger walkers have participated in more than 36,000 CROP Hunger Walks in the last two decades alone.

The goal of the local walk this year is to raise at least $7,136, said Pat Norby, one of the organizers.

“When we held the first local walk in 1994, 150 walkers raised $7,135,” she said. “This year, we added one dollar to it to hopefully raise just one more dollar. The more we raise, the bigger the percentage that goes to the local food shelf and Salvation Army.”

Last year, the group raised more than $5,900 and had about 55 people walk – in the rain – the 6.2 miles from Smokey Bear Park to Ranier.

“We're looking to have some kind of question and answer activity at Ranier that will include prizes,” Norby noted.

She said the community has conducted 13 CROP Hunger Walks in this area, since the first one in 1994. That was started by then Rev. Tom Aitken of First Lutheran Church. There has been a decline in the number of walkers over the recent years which led to trying walks in different seasons.

“Spring does seem to be the best time,” she said. “I'm just hoping that some of this snow is melted by then. Regardless, we'll be out walking.”

Pre-registration packets for the walk are available at the following churches that are participating in the event: Bethany Lutheran, Evangelical Covenant, Faith United, First Lutheran, Zion Lutheran, Littlefork Lutheran, and the Salvation Army.

“The Falls Area CROP Hunger Walk is a community event and all are encouraged to participate,” Norby said. “This is a nondenominational event. The more we raise helps fight both global poverty and hunger through Church World Service, but also, 25 percent of the amount raised stays here in Koochiching County ... We really encourage and are thankful for the community's support.”

Registration for the event begins at 2 p.m. April 28 at Smokey Bear Park. At 2:30 p.m., walkers will leave the park and walk to Ranier and then back.

To participate, contact a participating organization or church for a donation envelope and additional information. People may also contact Norby at 283-4113.

Walkers seek donations from family, friends and coworkers. Donations can also be sought by going online to www.cropwalk.org and clicking the “sign up” button. Click on Minnesota on the U.S. map and scroll down to the list of CROP Hunger Walks to the International Falls Hunger Walk. Click on “International Falls” and follow directions. Emails can be sent to people anywhere in the world who can donate to the cause.