relay for life 2015
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
By BRYCE BERGINSKIPierce County Tribune ReporterLifelong Rugby resident Kathy
Bonn calls May 17 the start of “ajourney for my family.”Twenty years ago her husband,
Fred, had a heart attack. Two yearsago, at the age of 63, her lifechanged during a check-up.Dr. Tammie Harder found a
small lump in Kathy’s breast. Thisled to a mammogram, an ultra-sound, a core needle biopsy (wherea large, hollow needle takes smallcylinders of tissue from the abnor-mal area on the breast) and an ulti-mate diagnosis of triple negativebreast cancer – a form that affects10 to 20 percent of patients.“I actually had a hard time find-
ing the lump after (the doctor)showed me where it was, whichwas a good thing. They caught it
early,” Kathy said.Kathy said the diagnosis came
with no real warning signs.“Before I had my appointment,
there were no bells going off. I did-n’t feel sick by any means, I felthealthy. There was no knocking onmy head saying, ‘Hey, you’re notfeeling good, you gotta get thischecked,’” Kathy said.An aggressive form, triple nega-
tive breast cancers are more diffi-cult to treat because they do notexpress genes for hormones,including estrogen and proges-terone. Kathyunderwent a lumpec-tomy (surgically cutting the lump),
and later a mastectomy (cuttingpart of or the entire breast) on July5, 2013, at the Roger Maris CancerCenter at Sanford Health in Fargo.She thenunderwent chemotherapyand radiation treatments, finishingbefore Thanksgiving 2013.Kathy said the painful part was-
n’t the discomfort after surgery, butthe first chemo treatment. She hada reaction to the treatment thatlanded her a brief trip to the emer-gency room.“That night was awful,” Kathy
said.Cancer didn’t just affect her in
the two years since her diagnosis
and treatment. Kathy recalls losinga good friend of hers, RichardWest,and a classmate losing her hus-band.Despite a cancer diagnosis,
Kathy kept working. She worked atMcGuire for 35 years, and, to date,works part time at TBEI (RugbyManufacturing).“I had a classmate of mine who
was diagnosed, it would be 10years now, she told me, ‘The bestthing you cando is go back towork.Don’t sit at home and fret about it,or worry yourself to death,’” Kathysaid.This year, at 65, Kathy has been
named the Honorary Survivor forthis year’s Relay for Life, whichtakes place June 5 at Johnsen Fieldin Rugby. She hopes that she canbe seen as a positive influence, andthat cancer can be beaten.“People need to know that you
can’t just sit back and say, ‘Ohwell,it’s not gonna happen to (me).’ Youneed to be vigilant about it,” Kathysaid. “It’s something you can sur-vive, it isn’t always a death sen-tence for everyone.Kathy joins several area cancer
survivors, including last year’sRelay speaker Jody Tuchschererand Denise Myhre.“She’s living her life wonderful-
ly andwas a great steward for beinga survivor for Relay for Life,” Kathysaid of Myhre. “I just hope in somesmall way I can do as well as shehas and let people know this is notsomething to be afraid of.”
Relay for LifePage 2 June 2015
Bonn named honorary survivor“Before I had my appointment, there were no bells going off. I didn’t feel sick
by any means, I felt healthy. There was no knocking on my head saying, ‘Hey,you’re not feeling good, you gotta get this checked.’”
— Lifelong Rugby resident Kathy Bonn
®Northern Equipment® Daryl’s Refrigeration
Chillers® Event PlanningCommittee
®Marie’s Blessings®Midco
®Northern Lights LionsClub
® Trucking for a Cure® Jumpin For Jack® Follman Farms ...Farming for a Cure
® I design® Pink Panthers® TeamAshley
® Pawing for a Cure—RHS Varsity Football
Cheer Team® Bucket Brigade® Rugby PoliceDepartment
2015 Pierce CountyRelay for Lifeteam names
4 p.m.® Team
Registration® Campsite set up
5 p.m.® Relay Store
Opens® Silent Auctionbidding begins
5:30 p.m.® Free WillDonation
® CommunitySupper6 p.m.
® SurvivorRegistration
6:45 p.m.® Team Line
Up/Team picture7 p.m.
®OpeningCeremony-
Broadcast liveon KZZJ 1450
Radio;Welcome by Sharon
Houim;Prayer by PastorDon Barness;
Relay for LifeJune 2015 Page 3
2015 PierceCounty
Relay for Lifeschedule
See RELAY — Page 4
Relay for LifePage 4 June 2015
National Anthemsung by Ely
Elementary Choir;Color Guard pro-vided by RugbyAmerican Legion;Honorary Speaker
Kathy Bonn® Introductionof Teams andSponsors
®Survivor Lap…ACelebration of
Hope!8 p.m.
® Walking andActivities/Give
Away® Music provided
by R & REntertainment
® First LutheranChurch Pizza Party
10 p.m.® LuminariaCeremony ...Lighting andReading names
10:30 p.m.® Glow RunRegistration10:45 p.m.
® Memory LanternCeremony
RelayContinued from Page 3
See RELAY — Page 5
Relay for LifeJune 2015 Page 5
11 p.m.® Fireworks
11:30 p.m.® Glow Run ...
Daryl’sRefrigerationChillers
Glow in the Darkactivities: center of
the field12 a.m.
® Relay Store andSilent Auction
Close1 a.m.
® Final Bank- AllMoney Needs to be
turned in2 a.m.
® Walking Ceases,Closing Ceremony,
Final Prize,Campsite Cleanup
Games and activi-ties throughout the
evening. Times yet tobe determined forGlow in the Darkbowling, Wacky
Hairdos, Photo booth,Jail and Bail and
Mug Shot photos toname a few!
RelayContinued from Page 4
Relay for LifePage 6 June 2015
2015 PierceCounty
Relay for Lifecommitteemembers
ChairLaRae Senechal
Co-ChairDarci Gross
Team RelationsMandy
Kuhnhennand Tami Ness
Accounting/RegistrationMichelle Lakeand BrendaKoehmstedt
Online ChairSyAnn Graberand SharonPedersonLogistics
Shelley BlockSurvivorshipTerri Jacobsonand Sid Nelson
PublicityDaunne Heilman
LuminariaMandy
See PLAN — Page 7
Relay for LifeJune 2015 Page 7
Kuhnhennand Faye Hoffart
AdvocacySharon Pedersonand George Gray
EntertainmentJennifer Sukoand Ashley
StrickerSponsorshipDarci Grossand LaRaeSenenchalOpening
CeremoniesJody Tuchscherer
Relay StoreYvette and SamiRosemarynowski
and ColeenStutrud
FoodFirst Lutheran
Churchand RugbyJayCee’s
Silent Auction/Donations
VonnieDegenstein
and Stacy Jaeger
PlanContinued from Page 6
June 5, 2015
HOPE CLUB MEMBER
GOLD
SILVER
Relay For Life ofPierce County
RoletteWildlife Club
HOPE CLUB MEMBERPE CLUB MEMBERMEMBERR
iePRela
e Ccrory F
tounCer Lif
ytof
June 5, 2015ieP
une 5, 2015e Ccr
2015tounC yt
GOLDD
VESILLVER
ildlife ClubWWildlife ClubetoletRER
ub
Relay for LifeJune 2015 Page 9
984
7,519
190CANCER PATIENTS WHO ARE UNINSUREDOR ON MEDICAIDRECEIVE ASSISTANCE.
1,021CALLS ARE ANSWERED.
Our trained cancer
information specialists
offer information,
answers, and support
to those who call our
24-hour information line at
1-800-227-2345.
702NIGHTS OF
FREE OR REDUCED- RATE LODGINGARE PROVIDED
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY IN NORTH DAKOTAEVERY DAY, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY IS SAVING LIVES. HERE ARE SOME WAYS WE MAKE AN IMPACT EACH YEAR.
trips taking cancer patients to treatment are
provided by American Cancer Society
Road To Recovery® volunteers and
other transportation programs.
TO CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME FOR TREATMENT.
©2014 American Cancer Society, Inc. No. 030537 Rev. 11/14
ARE MADE TO BREAST CANCER PATIENTS BY OUR REACH TO RECOVERY® VOLUNTEERS.
ONLINE CANCER SURVIVORS NETWORKSM
SESSIONS ARE HELD.
VISITS ARE MADE TO CANCER.ORG.
63,224
110 VISITS
cancer.org | 1.800.227.2345
These programs and services are made possible by our generous supporters. To learn more about how you can help us �nish the �ght against cancer, visit cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345.
Relay for LifePage 10 June 2015
Come & let yourhunger be satisifed
Authentic Mexican FoodAuthentic Mexican Food
Sponsor Level AmountMinot Daily News Excalibur $8,000iHeart (6 Stations) Platinum $4,000In Memory of Wade Sundsbak Platinum $4,000Midcontinent Communications Platinum $4,000KXMC-TV Gold $3,000Hunt Oil Company Gold $2,742.75Flower Box Gold $2,500KHRT-AM & FM Gold $2,500KMOT-TV Gold $2,500KTZU-FM Gold $2,500KWGO-FM Gold $2,500KXND-TV Gold $2,500Trinity Health Gold $2,500KMCY-TV Silver $2,000Grand Hotel Silver $1,500MSU Silver $1,500Magic City RV Silver $1,500Rainbow Photo Lab, Inc Silver $1,500Sleep Inn Silver $1,500Northern Sentry Bronze $1,000Knowles Jewelry Bronze $600Brady, Martz & Associates Bronze $500Broadway Family Dentistry Bronze $500Gerdau Bronze $500Midcontinent Communications Bronze $500ND Guaranty & Title Company Bronze $500SRT Communications, Inc. Bronze $500
Minot Relay Sponsors
(Subject to change) All events are open to the public.More activities to be added as confirmed.
4-7 p.m.® Knocker Ball
4-9:30 p.m.® Bouncy Castles
® Relay Store is open4-9:45 p.m.
® Silent Auction5:30 p.m.
® Hot Dogs served by Trinity Cancer Care to all survivors7 p.m.
® Opening Ceremony® Survivor Lap immediately following opening ceremony
® Team Parade Immediately following survivor lap7-8:45 p.m.
® Miss Relay9:15 p.m.
® Announce Miss Relay winner10 p.m.
® Luminaria Ceremony10:30 p.m.
® Missy’s Band11 p.m.
® Soap Box Derby1 a.m.
® Team Captain Party2 a.m.
® Frozen t-shirt contest and frozen scavenger hunt3 a.m.
® Zumba4-5 a.m.
® Breakfast6-6:15 a.m.
® Awards/Closing Ceremony
2015 MinotRelay for Life schedule
Relay for LifePage 12 June 2015
701.852.10011415 S. Broadway • Minot, ND, 58701
#OvercomeMaria Stroemer
5th Floor CrewJennifer Stringer
Banking on a CureVirginia Deibert
Becky’s BallerinasAngela Stratton
Blue Cross BlueShield of North
DakotaLaura Neumiller
Boys & Girls Clubof the Three
Affiliated TribesMary Beth Jarski
Boys & Girls Clubof the Three
Affiliated Tribes IIJacobi Jarski
CM SuperstarsJennifer Stringer
Cake Full of CandlesLindsay Ries
Cancer CrushersMandy Miller
Carpio Relayfor Life
Jodi Johnson
Cognizant of CancerRosa Emilia Berg
CommitteeKim Hunt
Derailing CancerCeleste Hauser
Dream TeamJennifer Mazingo
Elbowoods Warriorsfor Life
Ramona Danks
Firefighters for aCure
Charles Gage
HealthSourceChiropracticJadian Mack
Ilze’s AngelsKaren Walz
IslandersDoris Holen
JakePaul Siebert
Ken’s CrewErica Copeland
Lighting the WayJudy Olson
Lil Mamas FamilyMyya Falcon
MASHSharon Reistad
Mama’s FamilyHeidi Llewellyn
Minot LumberNancy Skalbeck
Minot PAIzabella Sullivan
Moose MafiaAlicia Roman
Operations SupportSquadron
Kendra Goff
Purple BananasAlyssa Proper
REM NDDawn Anderson
SRT CommunityWellness WalkersCindy Obenchain
Scrapping out CancerLori Francis
St. John the ApostleWyrene Ramirez
Surrey SuperstarsSusan Ladlee
Swing’n for a CureJanice Hanson
TCCU StarsKathleen Henjum
Team CarebearsTeri Nelson
Team Red,White & Blue
Kevin Ragsdale
Team SamanthaJessica Baker
Team T-Q-INicole Villagrana
Team TealLyndsey Hoffer
The Go-For GirlsKimberly Whitish
The Minot CrusadersJames Falcon
Thorman AgencyThorman Ins & Fin
Services Inc.
TrailblazersTonya McKinney
Trinity LifesaversLaura Miller
TumoraTorSErika Porter
Walking For MorAshley Counts
Walmart CarebearsVicky Zeretzke
Walmart Carebears 2Krista Sanford
White DrugJulie Jacobson
Hoofin if for a CureDawn Kolden
2015 Minot Relay for Life Teams and Captains
Event Co-chairKim Hunt
Event Co-chairMarci Nelson
Accounting ChairCindy Obenchain
Luminaria Co-ChairKristin Bogar
Luminaria Co-ChairKristin Schwartz
Marketingand PublicityKari Block
Mission DeliveryChair
Ellen SipmaMission Delivery
MemberRosa Berg
Facebook ChairKim WhitishOnline ChairMark HuntRegistrationCo-ChairLori Francis
RegistrationCo-Chair
Jared FrancisSponsorship Chair
Ruby HoodSurvivorship ChairHeidi Llewellyn
Survivorshipmember
Diana FowlerActivities
and EntertainmentKaren BrownSilent AuctionTonya McKinney
Relay StoreMary Locken
and Diana FowlerMisc. Committeemembers/floatersAlyssa Staggs
Laurie StawiszynkskiCarly Gates
Relay for LifeJune 2015 Page 13
Gordy's Vision
Dr. Klatt had a purpose when he began the 24-hour Relay in 1985. The
significance of daytime and nighttime coincides with the journey that all
cancer patients go through.
Clear your mind and picture...
It's daylight. Life is wonderful. You're healthy, happy and looking
forward to the future. You're looking forward to your child's dance
recital or taking your child to Disney World for a vacation. You're
looking forward to the new house you just bought. You have a new dream
job that you're thrilled about.
But then...darkness falls.
You hear those words "You've got cancer", or worse, your child had
cancer. Your life has suddenly become very dark. You don't know what
the outcome will be. You feel there is no hope in sight. You start your
treatments. You're nauseous and you have no hair. You're exhausted
from caring for your child and from the agony knowing there's nothing
you can do to make him healthy again. You couldn't possible feel any
worse.
Until...
The sun starts to rise. The tumor is shrinking. Your treatments are
working. You're getting your appetite back. Your child feels well enough
to go out and play for just a few minutes. There is hope.
It is now daylight and you're in remission. You have your life back.
You've made it through the night and the darkness. You celebrate life in
the daylight knowing that the darkness of nighttime is behind you.
That is why we Relay, This is why Relay is an overnight event.
2015 Minot Relay for Life committee members
1201 11th Avenue SW • Minot, ND 58701 • Phone 701-858-6700 • Toll Free 1-800-841-7321Hours – Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
www.centerforfamilymedicine.net
• OB/GYN Care• Newborn Care• Well Child Visits• Pediatrics
Need A Doctor?• Preventative Healthcare• Mental Health• Geriatric Care• Full Service Pharmacy
Relay for LifePage 14 June 2015
By JILL HAMBEKStaff Writerjhambek
@minotdailynews.comHeroes come in all shapes
and sizes and are not always thetypical sort who rush into aburning building to save a dogor jump into shark-infestedwater to rescue a child. Heroesof Hope for the AmericanCancer Society are heroes of adifferent kind. Kim Whitish,closing specialist at NorthDakota Guaranty and TitleCompany in Minot, is a hero ofthe latter kind.
Whitish was recently namedaHero ofHope for theAmericanCancer Society. The Hero ofHopeaward ispresented to indi-vidualswho showanexemplaryinvolvement with Relay for Lifeand are symbols of hope for allthose battling cancer. Heroesprovide a visible symbol of per-sonal victory over cancer andencourage support and partici-pation in the programs of theAmerican Cancer Society.
“Cancer survivors inspire us,reaffirm our mission with theAmerican Cancer Society andreinforce, in a personal way, the
need to eliminate cancer fromour lives, within our lifetime.HeroesofHope represent all sur-vivors, especially those whocannot speak for themselves,”said Whitish.
She was nominated byLaurie Odden, the Relay for Lifecommunity manager for theMinot area.Whitish said shehasworked closely with Oddensince joining the Relay for Lifecommittee in 2006.
After Whitish was notified ofher nomination, she had to gothrough a selection process.That involved writing an essaytelling her cancer story and herinvolvement with Relay for Life,which was then reviewed by apanel of judges who chose theHeroes of Hope for 2015.Whitish was one of 12 peoplechosen from a 12-state radius,she said, spanning from Alaskato North Dakota.
“I was extremely surprised tobe selected as a 2015 Hero ofHope,” said Whitish. “Therewere so many wonderful sur-vivors who were nominated, Iwas shocked that I was pickedas one of the amazing represen-tations of the American CancerSociety and Relay for Life.”
Being selectedas a2015Heroof Hope is an unbelievablehonor, Whitish said. The sur-vivorswho she shares the awardwith are truly amazing people,she added. “They bring hope toa whole new level,” Whitishsaid. “To know that I have hadthat effect on people and havebeen recognized for it is justamazing.”
As a Hero of Hope, Whitishrepresent Relay For Life andother American Cancer Societyprograms and the AmericanCancer Society in public bytelling her “story” and the bene-fits of the American CancerSociety through her journey.Some of Whitish’s dutiesinclude speaking at Relay forLife and other American CancerSociety events and functions,participating in Hero of Hopetraining and conference calls,recruitingother cancer survivorsand caregivers to attend theirlocal Relay for Life event, active-ly participating in your localRelay for Life event and helpingto grow survivor participation inRelay for Life.
In 2006, Whitish was diag-nosed with stage 1 melanoma.
Helping people,offering hope
Submitted photoKim Whitish, closing specialist at North Dakota Guaranty and TitleCompany in Minot, along with being a two-time cancer survivor,was recently named a Hero of Hope for the American CancerSociety.See HERO — Page 15
Relay for LifeJune 2015 Page 15
She had surgery in March of thatyear and was deemed cancer free.However, then in 2013, Whitishwas diagnosed with stage 2 breastcancer. After a double mastectomyand 16 rounds of chemo, exactlyeight months after her diagnosis,Whitish was again deemed cancerfree.
“During each of my diagnoses,the American Cancer Societyplayed an important part in myjourney,” she added. “The 1-800-ACS-2345 info line is available 24hours a day, seven days a week toanswer questions and connect youto survivors you can speak to aboutyour diagnosis.” Also, Whitish saidACS provided a wig and participa-tion in the “Look Good, Feel Better”program completely free of charge.Those two items helped her to dealwithher changing lookduring treat-ment, she added.
Whitish began her involvementwith Relay for Life in 2004 to cele-brate the fight of her Grandpa Johnas a team member, she said. In2005, she was remembering him ashe had lost his battle withesophageal cancer, as a team cap-tain. In 2006, Whitish joined theRelay for Life committee and havebeen involved in as many rolesincluding team development chair,event chair, Facebook coordinatorand team captain ever since.
Relay for Life is an amazingevening of celebration, remem-brance and fighting back, Whitishsaid. “As I walk the Survivor Lap, Iam overwhelmed with the love andsupport, not only of the other sur-vivors, but of the communityaround us,” she added. “As webegin theLuminariaCeremony, andI see each candle lit, representingsomeone who has been touched bycancer, I know why I am indeedfighting back. Going through thedarkest hours of the night, thelongest hours, remembering thatcancer never sleeps and neither dowe. The sunrise and knowing thatwe have made it through the nightand again into the light.Wewill cel-ebrate a new day and continue thefightuntil thewords, ‘Youhave can-cer,’ are eliminated from our vocab-ulary.”
HeroContinued from Page 14 ® Team Care Bears will
be selling cotton candy® Thorman Insurance
will be doing a duct tapeactivity and serving break-fast in the morning
® Mama’s Family/Lilmama’s family- face paint-ing, BBQ pork, lots ofsweets, beverages otherkid’s activities, sucker tree,carnival games, prizes foreveryone
® Moose Mafia — Hotdogs, chili dogs, chili
cheese dogs, nacho, chili,chili cheese nachos, lemon-ade
® The Go-For Girls —sausage on a stick, dessertson a stick, All night pokerrun
® Trinity Lifesavers —bounce house, hot dogs,popcorn, cake pops, coffee,hot cocoa, water and pop
® SRT — Brats , hotdogs, chips, baked goods
® Wal Mart — lap beads,pulled pork sandwiches
® Firefighters for a cure— Pulled Pork Parfait,video game dance contest
® Banking on a Cure —Sloppy Joes, chips, desserts
® Scrapping Out cancer— VIVI jewelry
® Be Cognizant ofCancer will be selling hamsandwiches
® Trinity Cancer Care —will be honoring survivorsby giving away hotdogs
® Something for every-one!! Come join us!
2015 Minot Relay for Life team activities