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Lakeland Currents, your public affairs
program for north central Minnesota produced by
Lakeland PBS with host, Bethany Wesley.
Production funding for Lakeland Currents is made possible by Bemidji
Regional Airport serving the region with daily flights at the Minneapolis -
St. Paul International Airport. More information available at
bemidjiairport.org. Closed captioning for Lakeland
Currents is sponsored by Nisswa Tax Service. Tax
preparation for businesses and individuals online at
nisswatax.com.
Bethany: Hello. I'm Bethany Wesley
and this is Lakeland Currents. The American
Cancer Society reports that there were 15.5 million
americans living with a history of cancer
on January 1, 2016. About
1.7 million new cancer cases are expected to be
diagnosed this year in 2018.
It's hard to imagine anyone not knowing someone
whose life has been impacted by cancer.
Locally here in Bemidji, survivors, caregivers and community
members come together to raise funds for cancer research
and survivor support services through the Beltrami
County Relay For Life. This year though
there will be some changes for the popular event. Here to
tell us about those changes and to talk about the greater mission of
the Relay For Life are Stephanie Moe, the
event lead here in Beltrami County and Cindy Swedberg,
the marketing and entertainment lead. Welcome.
[Thank you] [Thank you] Why don't you start by telling us
a little bit about how you got involved with Relay For Life. How long ago, how
long you you've been involved?
Cindy: I don't even know if I remember what year I started. [laughing]
It's been a long time. I started originally in
Foley. I had a friend that was
a cancer survivor. I have since lost
her to cancer. But my dad
also passed away from cancer and so
it was a way to honor them
and somehow, someway fight back.
Bethany: So Cindy you're the marketing and entertainment lead.
Do stuff like this, right to help promote the event
and awareness? Is that kind of what your role is? Cindy: Absolutely.
That is my marketing part. I
promote the event. I promote other events that
feed into the main event. We also
have someone that does the team marketing. So for teams
that might be having a fundraiser or something she does
more of that end of it. And then my
entertainment area is right at Relay.
Finding whether it's local entertainment or
coming up with some type of entertainment for the
day. Bethany: Stephanie, how did you get involved, initially?
Stephanie: I started in 2007,
my husband and I. My parents are both cancer survivors,
thank goodness. I lost my grandpa in
1990 to cancer. So that was my very first
part with it. But in 2007
we started and haven't looked back. We just keep
... going. [laughing] Bethany: Is this the first year you've
been event leader? Have you done that previously or... Stephanie: No.
Bethany: How does that work? Stephanie: This is my third year as event lead.
Bethany: Okay. And that's just helped coordinate the event then? [yes, yes]
Is it fair to say that most people who get involved with Relay
For Life from the planning aspect has a personal connection of
some kind to cancer for the most part? Cindy: Yes.
I would say yeah, definitely.
Bethany: We want to talk basic info. Just about the history of the event.
So how long has there been a Relay in Beltrami County?
Stephanie: This is our twenty-second year. Bethany: Twenty-second year.
Would you say it continues to grow? Are you kind of stable?
Is it kind of going through a down portion? Where you kind of
at in terms of overall involvement and excitement?
Stephanie: Number
wise we are down. But I would have to say
last year, excitement and motivation wise,
was one of our best years. [yeah] So I think we're kind of
in a downturn but I hope we're going back up
with the big changes we've made. Cindy: I think everything recycles... [yes]
and we're not any different than anyone else. [absolutely]
We have a lot of teams that have been
with us for many... years.
And they continue to come. And we
welcome those that are new. They might have just
had a close call with cancer
or someone they know is diagnosed. Someone they love.
Maybe they're fighting themselves. So we are always
welcoming new members. And... a new
involvements. Bethany: We're going to get to some of the changes that
are coming up this year just soon enough. But before we get
there we want people at home to be able to kind of picture what the event
is for those who haven't been there. So we talk about a Relay For Life. People
picture a walk, right? There's a walk involved. So tell us
a little bit about what else happens though because there's more that's there than just
simply walking, correct? Cindy: Absolutely. [laughing]
We have a lot of fun. It
is the the best way I can describe it is probably
a carnival kind of an atmosphere.
Because there's games. There's entertainment. There's music.
There's food, all kinds of food. There's
other fundraisers that each team will
sponsor at the event. It's free
admission as far as getting into the event. There's free parking.
But teams will sell
items or food or that type of thing as part of their
fundraising efforts. But
it is just a lot of fun. Something
for absolutely every age out there.
We have little children that come. We have the elderly.
We have of course, cancer patients. We have
families. We have people that have no cancer
connection or Relay connection. They just come
and enjoy all the festivities.
Bethany: We know that there's teams that work toward their raising their fundraising
goals throughout the year. But if I'm hearing you correctly then, you
also have a certain percentage of just the public who shows up that
day just to take in whatever's there? [correct] [mmhmm]
Do you think people understand that? That you don't have
to necessarily be a team member? You don't have to necessarily be involved
with the fundraising? You're just welcome for community
support and celebration of those who are battling and
surviving? Cindy: I think we were a little surprised. We
had a booth at the home show a couple years ago. And people
came up to our booth and actually
voiced that. Well, we don't have a connection to cancer or we're not
on a team. And we're like, no you can
[laughing] definitely come. You are very welcome.
And that's one thing we've struggled with is to let people
know, hey it is a
community event, period. It is there for everybody's
enjoyment. And yes there's funds being
raised and awareness being raised for
the cancer fight. Bethany: It's a day long event, correct?
I mean it's not just a couple hours. I mean you go consistently for
all day? Stephanie: This year it's 10 hours. It
has been 12 hours in the past. But we're going
11 am to 9 pm this year. Bethany: But certainly people don't
have to stay for the whole thing? [no] They come. They pop in and pop out.
Stephanie: Absolutely. We have people come for opening ceremony. Which is
at 11 o'clock and then don't come back for
normally the survivor ceremony's at 6. We don't
have it set in stone yet, what it's going to be this year. But
we have people come and go. So and you're more than welcome
to come and go. Come check out what it is and
have some fun. Bethany: So the changes that are happening
this year is... first of all, the timing. Correct?
You've typically been earlier in the year than what it's going to be this year?
So tell us a little bit Stephanie about when it was before and when it will
be this year. Stephanie: It has been
7 of the last 8 years, it has been in July.
[okay] And we are moving to September this
year, September 22nd is our Relay this year.
Bethany: What... prompted that? Or what was the discussions
that kind of led to that? Stephanie: The feedback from
participants. Not only participants on
the team but just people that came to Relay. Or talked to us
after Relay. Summer's hard.
They've got too many other things going on in the summer
and not enough weekends
of nice weather. So we listened and we moved it.
They either asked for spring or fall and
fall is what worked out for this year so we're trying it.
Bethany: Okay. And then it's also changing locations. Cindy: Yup.
We've been at the Sanford Center for several years now.
And we decided
that being that it is moving to
September, that might be also
something we wanted to look at. Because another thing that we
kind of got from the feedback was that they liked the outdoor event.
However, we've always run into weather. [laughing]
Historically, it seems like every year we have
some typically type of weather. Whether it's
rain or storms, you know electrical storms or whatever.
So we you know we had moved into the Sanford Center.
With being out at the fairgrounds
we can have probably the best of both worlds, weather cooperating.
Although we do have the indoor option
totally if we need to. Bethany: Okay. So you're going
to be out of the fairgrounds with the intention hopefully if mother nature
cooperates of being outside. But if there
isn't cooperative weather, you can relocate indoors?
Stephanie: We're going to be in the commercial building and the
4-H building. And we hope to have
between the two, like some of
our activities, like the home depot or the dunk tank
or [the car show] minnow races and the car show
and all of that kind of stuff. And we will have part of our track
be outside but obviously if it's pouring down rain,
we don't have to walk outside. [laughing] So
we're doing both, weather dependent. But we have the
indoor totally if we need it but we can
do the best of both worlds we hope. [laughing] Bethany: Is it
coincidental that both changes are occurring within the same year or did
you go through a fairly thorough evaluation
process last year? Or what kind of led to them being tied
together? Cindy: I think we've been hearing
the desire for a different
date and the outside
atmosphere for several years. And
you know, we were kind of tied up with the Sanford at the time.
So I think it just kind of all fell into place
this year. Stephanie: If we're going to make a change
we might as well change everything we decided. [laughing]
Cindy: And make my job you know a little harder to do. [laughing]
Stephanie: You got it. [I know]
Bethany: So is a big push this spring, obviously being here?
I mean is it to get the word out that come July, it's not that it's
not happening? It's still coming up. Cindy: Correct, yes, yes.
Biggest probably, the biggest reason that we came on
is that. But we're always wanting to
let people know when it is because people love it. And
I guarantee if you haven't experienced it before
and you do this year you'll be hooked.
[laughing] [inaudible]. You'll be hooked. It's
a fun event. Bethany: That's interesting. Talk about the mood of the event.
Because you kind of think, it's cancer. It's survivors. That it would perhaps
be kind of solemn and kind of not necessarily
sad but reflective. But you talk about it being kind of
fun and you're laughing and smiling. So it must
have a different atmosphere to it.
Stephanie: There is parts of it that are very
somber and emotional like the
luminary ceremony. Personally, that one gets me
every time. But we are celebrating
our survivors and we
are celebrating the people we have lost.
So yes we try and make it be a very upbeat
fun 10 hours.
There is time for sadness.
But there's also a lot of laughter. We
have a lot of fun. Cindy: We do, very much so.
Stephanie: Our theme this year is Disney. So we're really excited
to see what our teams come up with
as far as costumes and we're excited
to see all the little kids dressed up too.
We did we had
Elsa and somebody else... [Olaf] a couple years [Olaf]
ago [a couple years ago]. And seeing the little kids come in
in their princess outfits and what have you. Cindy: And the Target
[oh yes] dog is usually there. And we have
had a lot of mascots come and so the kids really like
that. And honestly I think the adults kind of like it too. [laughing]
It's really a lot of fun.
Again, you know it's... just
if you haven't been there, it's...not just an event. It's an
experience and it's a good experience overall.
Bethany: You talked about a theme. Is there a different theme
every year? To kind of just reengenerize the
teams or does it kind of have everybody...what's the point of theme?
Stephanie: We ask the team captains if they want to do
a theme. Even though we pick a theme
you're not required to do the theme.
Some teams don't decorate their booth
in ... with our theme.
But a lot do and it's
a lot of fun seeing everything all decked out.
A couple years ago we had City
of Hope. So there was... it looked like
[main street] main street. It's just
fun. It's fun to see what people come up with.
It helps energize you know.
Bethany: And it gets the team I suppose, right involved in advance...the brainstorming. [exactly, exactly]
They're excited about it. Stephanie: So we threw out a bunch of options this year.
And they picked Disney. So Disney, Wish Upon A
Cure is our theme this year. [yes, yeah]
We're excited. Bethany: I want to go back. I forgot to ask about how long are you kind
of locked into the fairgrounds? If you find that for whatever reason
this doesn't fit, you know will you go... are you open to
going back if need be? You know what I'm saying? I mean are you
locked in for 3 years or anything? [nope] Nope. Stephanie: A year to
yer contract, so... Bethany: Okay. The
Relay is obviously the main event each year, right? I mean that's your big....
splash. But you do things throughout the year in addition, right?
To keep people thinking about cancer research and raising
funds and support. So tell me about some of the other events that you do throughout
the year in addition to the big one.
Stephanie: Bark For Life is one.
[Bark For Life?] Bark, yes. It's our
canine friends. [oh] [laughing] Because they're just as
important to you as your significant
other or a family member. Some people, that's what gets them
through is having a cat or a dog. So we do
a walk with the dogs. It's actually on June 10th
at Diamond Point Park this year from 1 to
3. That's one of them we do.
Cindy: We do... A lot of the teams do individual
things throughout the year. They
there's everything from of course the garage sales and bake
sales, taco fry bread taco sales,
[root beer float sales] root beer floats. We've worked the
Sanford concessions where we get a percentage over there.
There's a lot of things. Very creative
things that people come up with. We have one of our
committee members actually has
kind of she's kind of the
crocheting guru and she has sold
a lot of items over the last couple years. And that's been
her main fundraiser. And she is a cancer survivor.
And so she's... really kind of went kind of gung ho on that.
So there's a lot of other things too.
I know that the cornhole
during the...[we're part of Dragon Boat] yup. We're part of Dragon Boat.
There's a team that...there's 2 teams that come from Canada
that are all survivors. And then we have a
team that are survivors or they're caregivers that
have it one of the boat race. [inaudible] [oh wow]
Stephanie: So we're part of that. The cornhole on Thursday night
goes to Relay. And then we also
sell cupcakes during the race
on Saturday. And all of that money goes to Relay also.
So that's a fundraiser for us too. [yeah]
BSU does a
Relay at BSU. They head it in March.
And that's a feeder event for ours. Bethany: Okay. So you're all kind
of together, right, you're all on the same mission right so your kind of [mmhhm] [yup] [right]
all like one family? [yup, yup] So all of these events throughout the year not only do they
bring in money. But do they also help people kind of think
year round then about... [yes] [absolutely] even though it's got one giant event
year? Cindy: Absolutely. You know the luminaries is
one thing that's at Relay every year. And people can purchase
them for a suggested donation.
And they can decorate them anyway they want to
and bring them back or give them to one of our members and we
have them at Relay. And they get lit up when it gets
dark. That is one that's
one of the fundraisers right at Relay.
But it's sold throughout the year.
We have a silent auction at Relay which is you know
a separate event within the event.
And a lot of donated really awesome
stuff that they can bid on. So that's
kind of fun. Sometimes they have little bidding wars and it's just [laughing]
I mean an overall very fun event.
We kind of go off on the hope. It's the celebration
of our survivors, celebration of the
one's we've lost. But it's also the celebration of hope
because we have made big strides in
... recent years with...
cancer research and treatments and
you know. Then we have Hope Lodge which there are 2 in
Minnesota. They are lodges
where a cancer patient and one caregiver
can stay for free. There's one in the cities and one in
down in Rochester. And then we have other programs
that you know, it's not all research in that
it's the big part. But there's a lot of other things
that Relay supports. Bethany: Let's talk a little bit about what
happens with those funds. Because you have... obviously it's a big event, it's a
fun event. But the purpose is to kind of bring in money right? [mmhmm]
So you have these teams that work pretty much year round, some of them, right? Year round. [mmhmm]
To bring in as much money as they can. [mmhmm] Do you have a set goal
for what you want Beltrami County Relay For Life's
specifically to bring in every year? Cindy: Mmhmm. We do.
Stephanie: Our goal this year is $101,000.
Bethany: $101,00. Okay. Is that based on how you've done
in years past that you kind of set that benchmark?
Stephanie: Yes. Three years ago
we hit over $107,000.
And that was our highest. But
I can tell you we were all on a high when we found
out the number and it was really easy [laughing]
to go into next year and be you know. The wheels turning.
But there's a lot that gets
figured out to give us a benchmark of
where we think we want to be. And then we pick a number
and say that's that what we're shooting for. Bethany: And then each team
kind of set it's own goal correct? [correct] [mmhmm] [yup] Is there
a minimum that they have to raise to be considered part of
the team or anything like that? Cindy: No. You can be a team of
1. [laughing] You can be a virtual team.
There's so many ways to get involved. You don't have to
put out. I mean there's... [laughing] Stephi and I we
kind of live Relay. [laughing] But there's
a lot of people that have a passion but they you know
they don't want to be overly involved but they want
to do something. And so you can be a team of 1 and
you can be a virtual team. So you don't even have to be at the
event per se. And you can still raise funds and
donate them. Bethany: How many teams, roughly? Ball park,
do you have each year? Stephanie: We currently have
21 registered right now. Our goal is
30 for this year. So we're...getting there.
[laughing] And we still have a little time so... [laughing] Bethany: Sure.
Especially now that it's later. [exactly] All the money raised
goes to the American Cancer Society?
[yes,yes] [mmhmm] I want to talk a little bit about what the American
Cancer Society does. I know Cindy you just touched on some of it. A little bit
here. I looked up a few numbers. Not to
throw out too many stats here. [laughing] But last year there was
406 million in research grants, 1.2
million for support calls or chats,
and then 456,000 for
lodge nights at Hope Lodge. So I want to kind of pull out
a little bit about that. But the cancer research obviously
is a big...hook for people. [mmhmm] Do you
watch I mean as participants do you watch to see what
happens with all those grants to see what they... I mean is it exciting to feel like you're
a part of it? Stephanie: We just got
again, you saying, don't want to dwell on numbers but
we just got some info that to me was
astronomical since
August 1st of 2017 just
in Minnesota, they've given
12 grants for over
5,715,000. And that's just in Minnesota
in the last what, 10 months. [wow]
Yeah. So that was that's
cool to me. Cindy: And we've have had lots and lots of
award winning
research. Stephanie: Forty-seven ACS funded
research went on to win nobel prizes. Bethany: How many?
forty-seven? Stephanie: Forty-seven, yeah.
So what we're doing is working.
Cindy: Cancer deaths are down.
Stephanie: 26% decrease since 1991.
[yup] Bethany: Do you feel when you hear
stats like that do you feel a part of it? Like does that help knowing that you
are actively supporting toward it? Do you feel a connection with that?
Cindy: Yes. [yeah] You do. You feel
really proud. You do. You feel like
you've made a difference in somebody's life.
Bethany: In addition to just the research and hoping
that you can help people get better right? There's also the support
services that go on for those who are going through the process. [mmhmm]
And so they talk about these Cancer Information Specialists. [mmhmm]
And they're available 24/7. What exactly
is that and how is that beneficial if you already have the
doctors and the nurses and the medical staff?
Stephanie: Yes, you can have your doctors and nurses.
But they're not 24/7. You can't call your doctor
at home. You can call this 800 number, the cancer
information line
and talk to someone 24/7.
Three o'clock in the morning, if you just need to talk to somebody
you have questions going through your head, you call that number and
you're going to talk to somebody. And it's not just a volunteer sitting at
phone, they're trained. And if you have
questions about your diet and things aren't going
good with that, they get you to a dietitian.
And they're trained people. And
if they don't have the answer they're going to get you the answer and get back to you
right away. Bethany: So you're not just calling and hearing somebody whose
looking something up in a book or online, right? [exactly, exactly] I mean you're coming with
actual knowledge and training that actually.... [yes] [absolutely]
They also do support groups. [yes] [yup]
They help do equipment and all this, correct? [mmhmm] [yup]
The important parts of the journey? [Yes]
Cindy: Very important parts. Even at Relay we help
with a little bit of that. We have the Pantene
Beautiful links donation. So grow out your hair
ladies [and men] and men.
[laughing] They need 8 inches and
so you know you can get your hair cut right there and donate
it right there. The nice thing that we love about Pantene
is that they do not charge for
their wigs. And so that's been a
really big driving force on using them.
But we have actually licensed stylists
that cut your hair that day and then they donate the hair. So we
are supporting that end of it too that day.
Bethany: People hear that. And if you haven't maybe
talked to somebody personally or maybe don't know. Why is it important
the look good, feel good programs and all those that help people kind of
the wigs and feel better about their appearances as they
go through the process? Why is that important?
Stephanie: I can say from a personal standpoint my
very good friend got cancer and I went through her whole
cancer journey with her. Because she doesn't have children.
She has 4 legged children but she doesn't have kids. [laughing]
So I went through her cancer journey with her. And she lost
her eyebrows and her eyelashes when she lost all her hair.
But sitting in this look good, feel better and
learning how to put on makeup even though she
knew how to put on makeup. But now that you don't have eyebrows and
eyelashes and what have you. It was amazing to see her
go from I don't have eyebrows. I don't
you know to the smile on her face and the fun
sitting in there with 3 other people
learning about this. How to style a wig, how
to anything. There was an elderly lady in there who
from start to finish
she was you could tell not in
a very good place when she got there. And she left
with a new wig on that was styled and her face
all done. And I kid you not, she said, I'm going to go out
and knock my husbands socks off. And to see her
from the start of that to the end of that, that
it was it's just amazing. They make
you feel beautiful again. Even if
it's for that 2 hours. [human again] Even if that's all
it is. That they get to go home with a cosmetic bag
full of makeup and all kinds of stuff
that ranges from $300 to $700.
And it's just amazing.
It's just one more aspect of helping
someone through this journey. Bethany: So when you're feeling more
yourself. If you're feeling at least attractive or pretty, you're you know
you're not worrying about staying overnight or where you're going to stay or how you're going to get to
treatment the next day because they're helping give you a ride. Does that
allow the patient or the person whose really fighting then to
focus on getting better? [yes] Cindy: Absolutely and
it also helps the family because
I've done a lot of caregiving
both for you know my dad when he had cancer
and then for others. And
the caregiving journey isn't an easy one either. And
so if you don't have to worry about
how you're going to get them to treatment or
where you're going to stay because financially
it's not just having an available room.
Financially you're being hit from every corner
of the world. [laughing] And so
to have a free place to stay and the Hope Lodges are
beautiful and they... we're hoping to also do
some type of a stuff-the-truck or
trailer. We're kind of in the talks of it. But
for the Hope Lodges. Because they do take donations. They need
donations. But everything to the cancer patient and their
caregiver is free. And so
and then if there is not a Hope Lodge you know we
provide rooms or discounts to
rooms in other areas where their treatment
may be. Bethany: So you have a
few months till your September event. Still time to get involved.
Are you still looking for volunteers? For people to get involved [absolutely]
to say they want to be a part of this? [absolutely] [always, always, yup]
Well thank you ladies for joining me today.
Stephanie: Thank you for having us. Bethany: If you would like to learn more or if you would like to get
involved or to find a place where you can help out with
the process you can visit either the facebook page
or the website. Which is both listed here at the bottom of the screen.
In the meantime thank you for joining me. Please join me next time.
♪
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