Relay For Life

What an accomplishment. The  Dodge County Relay For Life  raised $182,500 two weeks ago. That is $10,000 more than the record set last year.

For 2009 the Dodge County Relay For Life was a national per capita award winner.  For counties with a population of 20,000-25,000 Dodge ranked fifth nationally. The per capita amount received was $8.38 for every man, woman and child in the county.

Last year Olmsted County raised $178,000 and their population is six times the size of Dodge.
When our economic downturn started in 2006 the Relay brought in $139,700. In 2007 the numbers jumped to $149,000, then $157,000, $172,500 and now $182,500 in an economy that is struggling.

Even in difficult times people in our local communities find a way to support this fantastic cause.

Unfortunately there is so much support because people are affected by cancer in so many different ways.
A survivors reception was held at the Relay before the other  activities started. My mother and a friend were standing in that food line. My mother's friend looked back to my mother and said,  "A year ago who would have ever thought we would be in this line?"

Isn't that so true. We never know who is benefitting from money raised from  events like the Dodge County Relay For Life donations go to research, education and patient care.

I am not about singling out individuals, but chairperson Aleta Abbott of Kasson has been the guiding force of this ship that continues to gain momentum. I'm not sure I will be around to see the cure for cancer, but I have been around long enough to see that the number of survivors continues to grow at a higher rate than those who lose that battle!

Leading the "Hunting For A Cure" Team at the Relay for Life are Russ Anderson and brother-in-law  Jim Struck, Cleveland, MN. Team leader is his wife, Lisa Anderson walking with daughters Jenna and Jaime Anderson and  Christy Leopold of Hudson, WI. They were the third highest fundraising team at $7,965. Russ Anderson is quite the sportsman/hunter so thus the "Hunting For A Cure" theme. Lisa is a cancer survivor. Photo by Wayne Hendrickson.