Relay For Life

A Special Supplement to the Austin Daily Herald

2B

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Funeral home employee helps combat cancer Friday, July 30, 2010

Josh Moniz/josh.moniz@austindailyherald.com

Patty Urlick is the team leader of the Worlein Walkers.

By JOSH MONIZ josh.moniz@austindailyherald.com

Herald file photo

Renee Anderson, left, a cancer survivor, takes in the moment during the balloon release during at last year’s Mower County Relay for Life.

Fighting back against cancer

By TRISHA MARCZAK trisha.marczak@austindailyherald.com

On Aug. 7, 400 men, women and children of Mower County will gather together in Bandshell Park united by one common purpose: to fight back against cancer.

The overnight American Cancer Society fundraising event, which began more than 20 years ago, is intended to create an atmosphere of remembrance for those who have lost battles with cancer, while also celebrating those who have survived.

“I feel the event plays an important part of the healing process for cancer victims, their families, relatives and friends,” said Linda Baier, event chair for Mower County’s Relay for Life. “We are there to remember, honor, support and give hope to those who have been affected by cancer.”

The event kicks off at 3 p.m. with entertainment, games, food and a silent auction. An opening ceremony, complete with a color guard and the introduction of honorary chairs, will begin at 6 p.m. The ceremony will wrap up with a survivors’ lap — a tradition that gathers all cancer survivors together for one momentous lap of victory.

At dusk, participants gather together once again for the luminary ceremony. Luminaries are created in memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer. During the ceremony, luminaries are lit and placed together, creating a visible measure of the far reaching effects of cancer.

Throughout the evening and early morning, teams, made up by members of the community, are challenged to take turns walking and running — all while raising money for a cure. The event will

Herald file photo

Dozens of luminaries in memory of Debbie Sayles lined the walkway at Mill Pond during the Relay for Life last year. The silent walk as names are read is one of the most powerful moments at the Relay for Life.

wrap up around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Fundraising for the event began in April. Since that time, teams have formed, pledges have been made and preparations have been set in place for the annual gathering.

Linda Baier, event chair for the Mower County Relay for Life said the goal this year is to raise $102,500. Last year, the event brought in just under $100,000.

“This year’s goal is lofty, but I am optimistic, and I really hope we can meet this goal,” Baier said.

Residents in Mower County participating in the event will join the 4,500 other communities throughout the country that have taken on a fundraiser that began with a single man. In 1985, a colorectal surgeon, Dr. Gordy Klatt, of Washington, managed to raise more than $20,000 when he dedicated he pledged to run for 24 hours. Others who heard about his cause paid to join him during stints throughout the night.

When it was said and done, he covered 83 miles of the University of Puget Sound track. From there, Klatt’s idea began to spread. Relay for Life has now become an international phenomenon.

When not working at the Worlein Funeral Home, Patty Urlick is busy doing her part to put an end to cancer.

Urlick works as an office assistant at Worlein and she is the team leader of the funeral home’s Relay for Life team, the Worlein Walkers.

While leading the team, she has personally raised more than $2,300 and her team has raised a combined amount of $5,725 solely by word of mouth. The Worlein Walkers are in third place for most funds raised for Relay for Life, behind teams IBI Data and Defy Gravity.

“In this business, I know people do a double take and go ‘Oh! A funeral home in Relay for Life. The fact of the matter is it’s in everyone’s best interest to find a cure for cancer,” said Urlick.

Working at a funeral home makes the funeral home employees better able to understand cancer’s effects on families since they handle the survivors of those that lose the bat-

tle with cancer, she said.

Urlick said she is passionate about her work with Relay for Life because of her own recent struggle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease in May of 2009. She received a double mastectomy within a week. Since the surgery was successful and her lymph nodes were not affected, she was able to forgo chemotherapy treatments for taking oral medication.

“I’d like to say the whole experience is behind me, except for the good things that can come out of it like helping others,” she said. “I used to be afraid because my family had a history of cancer. But once it happened, I was able to put it behind me and stop worrying.”

Urlick said that the Worlein Walkers will continue to fundraise for several years to come. Donations to the Worlein Walkers can be made at the Mower County Relay for Life website at www.relayforlife.org/mowercountymn.

Leading the way Hereald File Photo

Michelle Sundlie, a cancer survivor of 12 years, leads the Captain Atom's Cadets team around Mill Pond during the Mower County Relay for Life last year.

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Relay for Life

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010

3B

Honarary chair wants to spread hope

By MIKE ROSE mike.rose@austindailyherald.com

When Connie Crnkovic first learned she had cancer, one thing instantly crossed through her mind.

“When we first got the call,” the 42-yearold mother of two said, “my first thought was death.”

Crnkovic — the 2010 Mower County Relay for Life honorary chairwoman — was diagnosed in 2007 with stage-four colon cancer, meaning the disease was highly advanced and life-threatShe said ening. everyone she knew that had reached stage four had died.

But Crnkovic back.

She fought began six months of intensive chemotherapy, then had surgeries in December of 2007 and January of 2008. Shortly thereafter, Crnkovic was cancer free.

“I’m blessed for each day,” she said last week. “I’m blessed for my family.”

RELAY FOR LIFE FAST FACTS: •The Mower County Relay for Life starts at 3 p.m., Aug. 7, at Bandshell Park with entertainment, games, food and a silent Auction.

•The relay goes from 3 p.m. Saturday, until 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

•The Opening Ceremony is at 6 p.m. A color guard will present colors, and give a short blessing of the event and participants. After the honorary chairs are introduced, there will be a survivor lap.

•The night continues with games, entertainment, and a silent and live auction.

•The luminary ceremony begins at dusk.

•There are approximately 400 participants. With the community also invited to come and be a part of the event, the numbers could be anywhere from 500 to 800.

•The American Cancer Society has set the county’s goal at $102,500 this year. Last year the relay came in just under $100,000.

“Ultimately, it would be wonderful if people never had to hear the words ‘You have cancer’ ever again. I feel we have a ways to go before that happens, but if we can continue to move forward with research,

and people are able to lead happy, and pain free lives even after they have been diagnosed, then we are succeeding and doing the world some good.”

—Linda Baier, Relay

Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Connie Crnkovic will be this year's honorary chair when the Relay for Life gets underway at it's new location, Bandshell Park.

Despite the positive result of chemotherand surgery, apy has reCrnkovic vigilant mained against cancer. With two small, potentially worrisome spots on her lung and one on her liver, she contin-

ues to get chemo, but at a much less intensive rate, meaning she isn’t nearly as nauseous or fatigued afCrnkovic terward. sessions said her nowadays usually occur weekly for a three-week period,

then are paused for a while.

Though she hasn’t been able to resume her job at Apple Lane ComChildcare, munity where she worked fulltime before her diagnosis, Crnkovic said she is living happily and

healthily — in large part because of her family.

Crnkovic said her husband, Joel, and her teenage children have been very supportive of her, which has allowed her to recover comfortably at home.

Now, as her health has slowly come back, Crnkovic said she is honored to share her story during this year’s Relay for Life.

“I’m very excited, very honored,” she said.

Crnkovic said she used to be a shy person, but said God took away her fear of speaking during her battle with cancer. Now, Crnkovic said she wants to tell her story to anyone that will listen. Her story’s main point?

“That there’s absolutely hope,” she said. “No matter the stage, it doesn’t matter.”

Hope is what the Relay for Life is all about. Crnkovic said just being at a relay is inspiring, whether you’re a chairperson or not. And the cancer survivor added that the inspiration can apply to almost anyone.

“You can’t find a family that (cancer) doesn’t affect,” she said.

Relay for Life chair energizes organization

By JOSH MONIZ josh.moniz@austindailyherald.com

Since being appointed Relay for Life event chairwoman five years ago, Linda Baier has been on a hot streak improving the organization. During her time, she has exceeded fundraising goals two years in a row, been named the 2010 Volunteer of the Year and swelled the number of volunteer members.

Baier has several characteristics that allow her to excel at her position. She intimately understands the effect cancer can have on families because of her personal history with the disease. She has lost three aunts to cancer and her sister-in-law is a cancer survivor.

Most importantly, her mother was a 19-year survivor of breast cancer who died in 2001 when the disease metastasized to her stomach and spine.

“She was a very strong woman,” Baier said. “She never complained. She would have her treatments and go to work the same day. It made me mad she got this and that I lost her so soon.

I was resolved that I need to do something about this.”

Along with her experience combating cancer, Baier has a long history with Austin and Relay for Life. She was educated at Austin High School and Riverland Community College.

She began volunteering for Relay for Life in 1998.

“A good friend of mine called and said she needed help one

ESTABLISHED 1989 507-433-1000 • 877-985-8850

Herald file photo

Linda Baier, chairperson of the Mower County Relay for Life, is “arrested” and locked in the Cops for a Cure “jail” during last year’s Relay for Life. Teammates raised $120 to put her in jail; she, in turn, had to raise $120 to get “bailed out.”

Josh Moniz/josh.moniz@austindailyherald.com

Relay for Life event chair Linda Baier holds two luminaries. At the ceremony, people will fill their luminaries with sand and put a candle in it in memory or honor of those who have suffered from cancer.

day,” Baier said. “At first, I didn’t know what it was about. I was blown away with what I was participating in. I had to be part of it.”

She soon joined the committee in 2000 and quickly moved up to

ESTABLISHED 1990 507-433-8600 • 877-340-2900

the position of cochair in 2001. Finally, she took the position as chairwoman in 2005.

Baier explained that she felt it was her responsibility to continue leading the organization so that it

could remain vibrant.

“Everyone wants to help, but no one wants to lead,” Baier said. “I think it may be that they feel guilty if they ask others for money.

However, when you’re down there at the event itself and look

out to the crowd and seeing how many people are there, you know you’re doing something right.”

In addition to leading the organization, Baier works a secondary job at Diamond Ridge Printing as a graphic designer. She has used her design skills to benefit Relay for Life by designing the majority of forms used by the organization.

“Anything printed for Relay is done here at Diamond Ridge,” Baier said. “Over the years, we’ve just found what works best. We’ve designed a lot of stuff here and made them more userfriendly for team captains. I’m told other counties have taken our forms and used them as well.”

4B

Relay for Life

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010

A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

Griffey named honorary junior chair

By RACHEL DREWELOW rachel.drewelow @austindailyherald.com

Alexandra Griffey, 15, got her first bike when she was 10. The shiny blue ride was a gift from Santa Claus and she loved it so much that she gave it a name, “Sonic.”

Griffey planned to take her bike for a ride that spring, but she has yet to do so. She became sick and was diagnosed with meduloblastoma — a type of brain cancer — before biking weather arrived.

Griffey’s grandmother and guardian Sandy Hunn, described the May 2005 as “the diagnosis start of an incredible journey.”

It began when Hunn took Griffey to see a doctor in Austin after she complained of headaches and losing her balance.

“He did an MRI and sent us right to Rochester, where we learned she had a tumor in the cerebellum at the base of her skull,” Hunn said. “It was stage-four.”

Griffey underwent a biopsy which showed the tumor was malignant. A week later, surgeons removed the tumor, and six weeks of radiation

Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Alexandra “Alex” Griffey, 15, is this year’s honorary junior chair for the Relay for Life.

and a year of folchemotherapy lowed, Hunn said.

“I was pretty much mellow, I just ran with the flow,” Griffey said of undergoing treatment and being hospitalized.

Looking back at photographs of herself with no hair, Griffey added that she did not really enjoy being bald.

“She was cute, a tough little gal,” Hunn said. “I called her my little, bald Buddha.”

Hunn said that countless kind people and opportunities helped Griffey through the “long struggle.”

Griffey took a trip to Walt Disney World, courtesy of the Make A Wish Foundation, and also visited Camp

Jornada, a camp for children with cancer.

The two made many friends while they stayed at the Ronald McDonald House and they met former Vice President Walter Mondale, whose daughter, Eleanor, was being treated for brain cancer at the Mayo Clinic at the same time as Griffey.

Today, Griffey has a

head full of strawberry blonde hair and is preparing to head into the ninth grade.

Like many girls her age, she said, she loves spending time on the computer, playing video games, watching TV and shopping.

Griffey still has “Sonic” and though she has not ridden it, she has much to be proud of, having made

great — and unforeseen — strides in redeveloping her motor skills which were affected by the brain trauma.

“I love, love, love swimming. It’s my favorite thing.” Griffey said.

Griffey re-learned how to swim and how to walk after her treatment.

“They thought she would never walk again, it’s just amazing,” Hunn said, as the two recounted a memorable afternoon of wading in a hotel pool where Griffey unexpectedly took her independent first steps since her surgery.

Griffey can now walk independently for short distances, and uses crutches for longer ones.

In remission, Griffey continues her recovery with regular physical therapy and visits to an endocrinologist.

“About a year ago, we got a certificate that she is cancer free,” Hunn said.

“We should put it in a frame, Grandma,” Griffey interjected, with a hug smile spreading across her face.

Relay for Life to air on KSMQ’s ‘Health Connections’ AUSTIN DAILY HERALD

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event gives communities across the na-

tion an opportunity to contribute in the fight against cancer.

This year, there are Relay events all over southern Minnesota

and Northern Iowa.

KSMQ’s Health Connections is presenting a discussion to explore what Relay For Life is and where you can find

an event in your area.

Host Shawn Riley will visit with local American Cancer Society representatives about upcoming Relay events.

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The program airs on Saturday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m.

To submit your health questions or concerns, contact Health

Connections producer John Wiedenheft at johnw@ksmq.org.