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Published March 30, 2011, 12:00 AM

2011 Relay for Life


David Page embraces his mother Jo Page after speaking on her behalf as one of the honorary chairpersons at the opening ceremonies of the 2011 Relay for Life of Pierce County in the River Falls High School gym Friday evening. David gave a moving account of his father, former UW-River Falls Athletic Director Don Page’s battle with prostate cancer and Jo’s unwavering commitment to care for him until the day he died Sept. 14, 2010. David’s sister Sue Brown is seated next to her mother. Over 1,000 people attended this year’s Relay for Life, which ended with closing ceremonies Saturday morning, and over 50 teams combined to raise $161,341.09. Donations are still being accepted and organizers hope to reach their goal of $182,000 before the final tally is set. Donations can be made online at www.relayforlife.org/riverfallswi or by sending checks to: Relay for Life of Pierce County, Attn: Kellie Burrows, 113 N. Third St., River Falls, WI 54022.

  • David Page embraces his mother Jo Page after speaking on her behalf as one of the honorary chairpersons at the opening ceremonies of the 2011 Relay for Life of Pierce County in the River Falls High School gym Friday evening. David gave a moving account of his father, former UW-River Falls Athletic Director Don Page’s battle with prostate cancer and Jo’s unwavering commitment to care for him until the day he died Sept. 14, 2010. David’s sister Sue Brown is seated next to her mother. Over 1,000 people attended this year’s Relay for Life, which ended with closing ceremonies Saturday morning, and over 50 teams combined to raise $161,341.09. Donations are still being accepted and organizers hope to reach their goal of $182,000 before the final tally is set. Donations can be made online at www.relayforlife.org/riverfallswi or by sending checks to: Relay for Life of Pierce County, Attn: Kellie Burrows, 113 N. Third St., River Falls, WI 54022.
  • Honorary co-chairs Debbie Tradewell, center, and Cheryl Spicer, right, along with Tradewell’s father, Maynard Tradewell, left, are applauded as they lead the Survivors’ Lap during the opening ceremonies of the event Friday evening at the River Falls High School gym. Debbie Tradewell is a three-year breast cancer survivor and was a caregiver to her father, a seven-year survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, after her mother died of ovarian cancer. Spicer is a 20-year leukemia survivor. A record 101 cancer survivors totaling 890 years of recovery kicked off the overnight relay by taking part in the Survivors’ Lap.
  • Attendees give the cancer survivors a standing ovation as they enter the gym during the opening ceremonies Friday night.
  • The 101 survivors settle in for a group picture surrounded by over 1,000 people at the beginning of Friday night’s opening ceremonies.
  • Each survivor at the event carried ribbons of loops with each loop indicating one year of survival. The 101 survivors totaled 890 years of survivorship.
  • All 101 cancer survivor’s wore shirts with the American Cancer Society’s motto; “Happy Birthday is our Victory Song” on the back.
  • Kellie Burrows of the American Cancer Society welcomes the crowd of over 1,000 to the Relay for Life during Friday night’s opening ceremonies.
  • David Page tells the story of his father Don’s battle with cancer and his mother Jo’s unwavering commitment to care for him.
  • Jo Page and her daughter Sue listen as David Page speaks on Jo’s behalf during the opening ceremonies.
  • River Falls Rotary Club members Dean Van Galen and Randy Cudd serve up spaghetti and meatballs in the school cafeteria. All proceeds from the dinner went to the Relay.
  • The 2011 Relay for Life of Pierce County Volunteer Planning Committee: Janet Burns and Tara Whipple, co-chairs, Kelly Adams, Diane Barr, Jodi Bauer, Chris Blasius, Emily Blasius, Brittany Burns, Kathy Casey, Lee Casey, Tessa Coggio, Cassie Dahl, Mara Dietrich, Stephanie Engevold, Kim French, Tara Frey, Isaac Grover, Cheryl Grubb, Laurie Hansen, Olivia Knutson, Anna Konkol, Angie Lucking, Paige Lucking, Riva Macbeth, Julie Moe, Don Richards, Betsy Sather, Tammy Sharon, john Steffen, Katie Stratton, Erin Untz-Murphy, Maggie Whipple.