2nd Annual ACS Relay For Life held in Red Lake  

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

            On Friday, August 22, 2003, the Second Annual American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay For Life was held at the high school football field in Red Lake.

            Coordinated by Rosie Morgan, one of the cancer survivors, last year it was planned just a little over a month before it was scheduled to take place, and in the end they exceeded their $6,000 goal by almost $300. It was a success in other ways as well, in that it was a learning experience for volunteers organizing it, and it did bring people together and make them aware of cancer in Red Lake.

            It was also the first ever ACS Relay For Life fundraiser held on an Indian Reservation nationwide.

            This year, with planning meetings beginning as early as January 2003, they raised over $7,700, more than the previous year, yet under their planned goal of $8,500.

            That still is a success in more ways than one.

            According to a news article last year, the idea of having a Relay For Life that runs in a circle instead of a start to finish line is because there is no end to fighting cancer and a relay cannot be called a Relay For Life unless it is a 12-24 hour event remembering that ‘cancer does not sleep’.

            This years event took place on a Friday instead of a Thursday as in the previous year, and it began at 3 p.m. and lasted until 3 a.m.

            “Each step you take tonight gets us closer to eliminating cancer,” Morgan said as she welcomed everyone to the event. “More than 8 million Americans are living today with a history of cancer, and that’s because of volunteers like you.”

            She said volunteers and staff are working together to eliminate cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Together they will reduce cancer deaths by 80% and cancer incidents by 25%, and increase the quality of life for cancer survivors by the year 2013.

            “I volunteered for the American Cancer Society after I was z cancer survivor,” she said. “And I also volunteered for Reach To Recovery; and I volunteer for Roads Recovery and I had some inservices planned on Red Lake and had some volunteers for that.”

            Roads Recovery was for driving people diagnosed with cancer to their treatments or visits with doctors and had to be ambulatory.

            Morgan also spoke about the local ACS from Bemidji Hospital, that they provide cancer patients and caregivers access to durable medical equipment, rides to cancer treatments, grant programs to help pay for treatment expenses, and more.

            “Cancer information is available 24/7 by logging on to the ACS Website, www.cancer.org.“ she said. “This Website includes local event information, resources, cancer facts, and the cancer survivors network, a place where survivors and caregivers can receive support or network. The ACS continues to be involved in every major cancer research breakthrough.”

            The money raised through Relay For Life and other fundraisers helps fund the research needed to find a cure for cancer. When the ACS began funding research in 1946, just one in four survived. Today the average survivor rate is 62%.

            Morgan also thanked the Red Lake Tribal Council, Red Lake Tribal Bingo, Gonvick Oil, J. C. Penny, local establishments like the Red Lake Trading Post, Preston’s Store, Judy’s Store, and Beaulieu’s Store.

            A Red Lake Drum group sang an honor song and the local cancer survivors were led by Red Lake VFW Post 6889 Honor Guard members through the luminaries on the field.

            There were about 200 people at the opening walk, with some setting up tents around the football field area.

            The survivors making the opening walk included Rose Morgan, five and a half year survivor; Dorothy Cobenais, 23 years and second time around; Rosie Barrett 27 years; Carol (English) Hunt, 28 years; Linda Omen, 24 years; Priscilla Defoe, 20 years; Shirley Burgoon, 28 years; Roberta Vandenberg, 27 years; Shirley Maxwell, 41 years; William Strong, 10 years; Joan Strong, 29 years; Tara Thunder, 1 year; Roberta Kingbird, 16 years; Barbra Cloud, 15 years; Kevin Hart Sr., 3 years; Agnes Smith, 8 years; Tre-Beaulieu and Greg Strong.

            When night fell, all the luminaries were lit on the football field, set up in the form of a large ‘H’ for ‘Hope’, and it lit up the entire field area. The luminaries were bags with the names written on them of those cancer victims who lost the battle against the deadly disease, as well as some from others remembering a lost friend or relative.

            Morgan said that after the event, people were already wanting to get started on next years planned 3^rd Annual Relay For Life, for which she plans on getting started in November of this year.