Stories of survival, hope kick off local Relay For Life
The Pierce County Relay For Life occurs Friday and Saturday, March 25-26, at the high school, a community-wide all-night event that raises funds for the American Cancer Society and gives people a means of fighting back against the disease.
- Relay For Life is March 25-26
More...
The Pierce County Relay For Life occurs Friday and Saturday, March 25-26, at the River Falls High School, a community-wide all-night event that raises funds for the American Cancer Society and gives people a means of fighting back against the disease.
About 900 people attended the 2010 event, which raised $178,500 for cancer research. This year’s fundraising goal is $182,000.
Each year organizers choose from nominated individuals a few “honorary chairpersons” to share their stories during the event. Each gives their incredible account of survival, care giving or both.
Meet the Honorary Chairpersons for the 2011 Relay:
Jo Page
The Pages’ son, David, will share a bit of his parents’ story.
“Don and Jo Page came to River Falls in 1957 when Don was hired to be the new basketball coach at UW-River Falls. As Don’s career continued at UW-RF, he also served as head baseball coach, head tennis coach, assistant football coach, professor of physical education and athletic director. His statewide activities in athletics included six decades as a WIAA official and instructor of officials, and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference supervisor of officials for football and basketball. His service to athletics throughout the state was recognized by his selection to six different athletic halls of fame…
“Jo was a middle school home economics teacher, active in the Congregational Church as a Sunday school teacher and as a member of several committees. She hosted countless events on behalf of the university and was active in the local hospital auxiliary and American Association of University Women. She was Don’s ‘right-hand man’ and primary supporter in all of his community involvement.
“Don and Jo threw themselves into community life from the moment of their arrival in River Falls. Don was active in Lion’s Club, Free Masonry, Shrine, the Chamber of Commerce, and is generally recognized as the first chairman of the River Falls Days celebration. He was always in demand as a master of ceremonies.
“UW-RF school vacation periods always meant that Don and Jo would be entertaining some dinner gathering of out-of-town UW-RF students – sometimes from other parts of the state, sometimes from other parts of the world. They were truly ambassadors for the community. They never bought a stick of furniture or automobile or loaf of bread from outside River Falls. They were devoted to the community and to each other.
“In September of 2008 Don was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Don and Jo’s teamwork continued through the ups and downs of cancer treatment as she was always by his side. Hormone therapy was followed by chemotherapy and always accompanied by countless lab tests. Jo was always there. She cared for him at home, where they both wanted him to be, until the final two days of his life. Don died at River Falls Area Hospital on September 14.”
“Because her unwavering commitment to care giving for Don so nobly represents caregivers everywhere, Jo Page will lead the first lap of walking at this year’s Relay for Life.”
Cheryl Spicer
“My story began on November 9, 1990, my 33rd birthday, when I was diagnosed with leukemia. I was married with two children, 6-year-old Krista and 3-year-old Lucas. I was a 7th-grade language arts teacher in Prescott.
“The cancer diagnosis came unexpectedly. One day I was conducting parent-teacher conferences; the next day I was diagnosed and admitted to the hospital where I would spend the better part of the next two months.
“Acute non-lymphocytic leukemia is a fast-growing cancer. The treatment needed to move quickly. My oncologist wanted me to begin chemotherapy early the following morning.
“I asked my husband to bring Krista and Lucas to see me. Together we explained that I would be sick for a while, my hair would fall out and I would look silly, and I would have to stay at the hospital. I reassured them that their grandparents, aunts Pat and Julie, and others would take good care of them. I promised that I would get better and be back home with them soon.
“As I watched my children leave, I braced myself for the battle of a lifetime. For the next seven days, I had chemotherapy consisting of three drugs…I was sick around the clock. When the chemo and nausea ended, the fevers, chills, tremors, and other side effects began. I felt as though I were in a constant valley of darkness.
“Late one night…my body was aching and wracked alternately with fevers then chills. My mind was overwrought with worries and fears.
“When I thought that I really couldn’t take another moment, a calming presence entered the room…I could feel the love and concern of all of the people that were supporting me…I knew that family and friends were holding me up in constant prayer across the country.
“Soon I was calm and able to sleep. That night was a turning point in my battle. I wasn’t sure if I would survive the cancer, but I knew that my family and I would be OK.
“A couple of weeks after the first round of chemotherapy, I received the news I had been praying for -- I was in remission…and on January 9, 1991, I came home from the hospital to stay…
“There were many struggles along the way, but I survived. I watched my children grow up, graduate from high school and college. Yes, life is so very precious and good.”
Debbie Tradewell
“My name is Debbie Tradewell and I moved to River Falls in 1988 to attend UW-River Falls and compete in gymnastics. Since that time I’ve worked with the youth gymnastics program and currently coach the high school gymnastics team part time. I’ve been employed at Foley United in River Falls for over 17 years.
“I started participating in the Relay For Life in Hudson in 1998, a couple years after I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. She was only 49 when she was diagnosed and died shortly after her 52nd birthday. Devastated that I couldn’t do more, I decided that walking in the relay would be my way of doing something…so others wouldn’t have to go through the loss that my family did.
“My family had another scare just nine years ago, when my father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He struggled through treatments only to find out at his two-year checkup that the cancer was back. After aggressive chemo treatments, he slowly got stronger and stronger and checkup after checkup he was clear. He is currently a seven-year survivor and a constant reminder to me that times have changed and surviving cancer is possible.
“I was 36 when I felt what I thought might be a small lump on my breast during a self-exam. My doctor thought there might be something also and had me set up my first mammogram. As I walked out of the office, he told me that 95% of cysts found in the breast are benign. Unfortunately, that was not the case for me.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer just five days after walking in the Race for a Cure on Mother’s Day. I was lucky, the cancer was found early and I was able to have a lumpectomy and radiation followed by five years of tamoxifen (hormone therapy).
“Today I am a three-year survivor. I continue to walk in the Relay for Life as a captain for Team United (sponsored by Foley United). We are all touched by cancer in some way…and I believe that events like the Relay for Life are making an impact. Every day they make advances towards the cure for cancer - so personally I walk for those who have fought the battle and lost or for those who are currently fighting; I am hoping that one day it’ll be a very curable disease.”
More details
The 2011 PC Relay For Life follows the theme of classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz” with the tagline, “There’s No Place Like Hope.” Since cancer never sleeps, the event always goes all night, starting Friday night with a spaghetti dinner and ending Saturday morning with a hot breakfast.
Attendees and walkers will find the time between meals packed with activities, including words from the honorary chairpersons, contests, fun and games, a luminaria ceremony, silent auction, exhibit and vendor booths, plus lots of walking.
The Journal will include more detailed information about the event in upcoming weeks, but people can check schedules and the progress of their favorite fundraising team online at www.PCRelayForLife.org
RSS Feeds