At Relay for Life, survivors share stories, Cancer research gets funding

Scores of paper luminaria adorned with photographs and sprinkled with glitter, inscribed with the names of loved ones handwritten in marker or crayon, accompanied by stick figure families, memories and promises to meet again — all paid tribute to those lost to cancer. One reads: “Loving mother, wife, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend.”

For 24 hours from noon on Friday, June 7, until noon on Saturday, June 8, a continuous procession of people walked silently by the scores of luminaria surrounding the New Richmond High School track. They were raising money and sharing support at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life St Croix County. The relay unites family, friends, neighbors and strangers by recognizing their common experience battling cancer as survivors and caregivers. 

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is still the leading cause of death around the world, killing roughly 10 million people a year.

The fight against cancer long ago acknowledged that the cure is less likely a single magic bullet and more likely a hail of bullets in the forms of better nutrition, personalized vaccines, immunotherapy, precision oncology, a better understanding of the DNA of cancer, the use of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) in risk profiling and diagnostic imaging analysis, the use of liquid and synthetic biopsies and more. 

As the procession of people added lap after lap, children played games, there was music and yoga, concessions, prizes and a ceremony and reception for survivors. Much of the real healing took place in quiet conversations off to the side. In the tents and on the blankets surrounding the track, people shared stories about their diagnoses, the timing of finding out, the side effects medications and radiation, where to find great wigs, the importance of partners, doctors and nurses and the challenges of finances.

Honorary Co-Chair, Grace Gehrke, began her story by asking the audience: “What do the color orange, lymphedema and twins have in common?”

Gehrke’s journey started with a routine exam to renew her birth control prescription. That’s when the doctor noticed something. 

“Little did I know this day was going to change my life forever,” she said.  

“[The doctor] immediately ordered a mammogram for that afternoon. It confirmed there was a lump on my breast,” Gehrke recalled.

A biopsy confirmed it was breast cancer. 

”The wait for the biopsy was long and painful, minutes felt like hours and hours felt like days. After I woke up from the biopsy I asked if I had cancer and they said yes,” Gehrke said.

Gehrke opted for a mastectomy then chemotherapy.

“I just wanted this nightmare to end and to finish school,” Gehrke said.

The lymph nodes in her right arm were removed as part of the mastectomy, resulting in a condition called lymphedema. Lymph fluid doesn’t drain in the normal way. Lymph collects in an area of the body, causing swelling — in Gehrke’s case, that was in her right arm.

“There were days when I thought I wouldn’t get through it. The pain in my chest was sometimes unbearable,” Gehrke said. 

Three days before she was scheduled to begin chemotherapy, she told her physician's assistant something felt different. 

“I’ll never forget the big bag of orange fluid that was hanging up waiting for me,” Gehrke said.

Moments later, her doctor appeared and announced she was pregnant. The ultrasound revealed twins.

“Cancer had to be put on hold. I had twins to take care of,” Gehrke said.

On Monday, Nov. 4,1996, while light flurries filled the sky outside, Michelle was born at 2:03 p.m followed by her sister Rachel moments later, both healthy.  

“The orange was from the chemo bag that was waiting for me. The lymphedema was the result of breast cancer and the twins came, in the end, as a miracle from above,” Gehrke said. “I am a 28-year survivor and so are my girls … I hope my story gives you hope, strength and courage to know that we are all in this together.”

More than 50 survivors participated in this year’s walk. At last check, 22 teams had topped this year’s goal of $75,000 by more than $8,000 raising $83,357.39. Donations are still being accepted at: Relay For Life - St Croix County

The committee recognized Jill Lyksett for her 14 years of service to the Relay. 

Lyksett in turn thanked the survivors and their supporters.