fight back. Dr. Gordy Klatt decided to walk/jog laps around a track. Friends would donate $25 to join him for 30 minutes. After 24 hours, after 83 miles, he raised $27,000.
What he could not have known is that he was starting a worldwide movement that would grow to involve 3.5million people in 20 countries around the globe, who believe
the same thing that he does—that hope in action can save lives.
Because
so may want to do their part to eliminate cancer we come together every
year at
Relay for Life. Together we continue to walk in the
footsteps of one man, and
every step brings us closer to the day when no one has to hear
the words
“you have cancer.”
On June 12-13 the American Cancer Society will
be hosting the 20th Annual Relay for Life of Linn County. Over 150
teams from
the
together at
Friday continuing through
the night and finishing at
neighborhood associations - all
coming together with a common goal: to raise
thousands of dollars in the fight against cancer. Last year the Linn
County
Relay raised a net
of $320,000; retaining our title
as #1Relay in
Why overnight? When a person is healthy, days
are full of sunshine and life is good. A cancer diagnosis is like
entering a
dark night - a time of uncertainty and fear about the
future. Early
detection and modern medicine increase the odds of surviving cancer and
keeping
it in remission, bringing a new "dawn" as the darkness fades, along
with hope
of renewed health and a bright
future.
Relay for Life is actually a fund raiser within
a festival, featuring live entertainment, children's activities, cancer
education, snacks, and a pancake breakfast in a festival-like
atmosphere. Most
teams camp out all night in a giant slumber party! At
track to take one victory lap—a
truly inspirational experience. Cancer survivors are asked to come to
the
will be served to
all cancer survivors and their families.
Why Relay? Cancer does not
discriminate. It
affects all in its path—family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
.
Why Relay? At Relay
hundreds of
people-old, young, cancer-free and cancer survivors- experience what
Relay is
all about: A community supporting people who have been
afflicted with cancer.
Survivors meeting other survivors, the newly diagnosed meeting someone
with the
same form of cancer and comparing notes, finding someone to share
with.
Why Relay? Relay is
the chance to
celebrate with several hundred other participants and spectators. There
will be
excitement, fellowship, laughter, tears and celebration.
Why Relay? Because of
the sense of
togetherness, that nothing is greater than family and friends, letting
survivors knowing they are not alone.
Why Relay? Relay
reassures those
who have lost loved ones to cancer that they have a support group and
that
those who lost their fight will never be forgotten.
Why Relay?
Relay empowers
everyone to fight back against cancer right in their own backyard.
Please
join us for the 20th Annual Relay for Life benefiting the
American
Cancer Society. If you have any questions please call me.
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
Relay Volunteer co-chair
362-8061 ext 202
573-8155
2008 Relay
WHY IS DAVE MARTIN
RUNNING 50 MILES on APRIL 11?
Lap it up Man
to run 50 miles at UNI Relay for Life
The
during
the
Then he did it again the next weekend at the
more
times at two other Relays, all within a month.
The 52-year-old says he doesn't have anything to prove. Martin just
wants to
show his
support
for the American Cancer Society's annual Relays for Life around
But the marathons weren't doing it for Martin. He needed something
bigger to
bring
attention
to the cause and to challenge himself.
"When I did four marathons it wasn't easy, but it also wasn't as bad as
I
thought it would
be,"
Martin said. "So, I thought I would up the ante."
Martin will strap on his running shoes next weekend and attempt to run
50 miles,
or
250
laps, at this year's UNI Relay for Life --- the equivalent of nearly
two
marathons,
back
to back. He will be accompanied by various running partners, and switch
directions
every
5 miles, he said, "so I'm not leaning."
Relay for Life is entrenched in Martin's being; he's co-chair of the
Linn
County Relay
He picked UNI to run the 50 miles because of the weather-impervious UNI-Dome, and also because his daughter, Samantha,
is a student at the university.
He picked Relay for Life for other reasons.
"I'm gonna put myself through something like eight or nine hours. It's not going to be a lot of fun, but in the big picture, that's peanuts," Martin said.
"I've already outlived my father; he died of cancer. ... That's part of the unknown, that's part of the idea that I don't know what to expect ---
kind of like a cancer patient sometimes doesn't know what to expect. At the same time, I'm not facing a life-or-death prospect."
Martin admits the closest he's come to running that far was when he ran 31 miles once. That's 19 miles away from this goal, and took place 10 years ago.
"He ran in our Relay last year, ran an entire marathon, and we thought that was amazing so you can imagine how excited we are for him to run almost
twice as much as he did the year before," wrote Jewell in an e-mail. "We are all very excited for him to come and can't wait to cheer him on throughout the night!"
"Peanuts" it won't be, but Martin's undaunted.
"As far as my own mental sanity, I'll try to look at it as 5 miles, then think of it as 5 again. If you try to think of it as, 'I'm going to run 50 miles,' that's
a bit hard to think of that way," he said. "But I couldn't back out now if I wanted to, which I don't."
Sure, there's the fame and glory, and scores of admirers. But what really drives a person to run 50 miles with no gold medals or prize money on the line?
"If I can get people to say, 'Wow, that inspired me to write a check,' or (to) know about Relay for Life, that's what I'm hoping for," Martin said. "If that's
what it takes, I'll run a hundred miles next year."
Then he paused.
"Don't put that down, I'm not committing to that yet."
Contact Amie Steffen at
(319) 291-1464 or
amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.
In the four years I have been
co-chair of The American
Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Linn County our event has grown to
be the #1
Relay in
of 386 events
in our midwest division we are #3. Last year we
raised a net of more than $330,000. While that
is something to be proud of we can’t sit back
and be too
well-pleased
with
ourselves—we can’t rest --- cancer
never does.
As co-chair of the event I am
again looking to challenge all of
you
to help me help you raise
more money for your team for 2008. At the Relay for Life of
UNI on April 11 I
will run 50
miles around the
floor of the
Uni-Dome. (A 352 yard course will be marked with
cones making it 250 laps in all) I will start after opening
ceremonies-around
Click here for details: UNI
News Release
TOP
7 Reasons to Sponsor Dave for Relay for Life
7. I’ll be running 50 miles; 250 laps
around the
UNI-Dome floor. Please make it worth my while to spend that many hours
running
in circles.
6. All you have to do is make a donation and get
others to
do the same. Challenge others to make a pledge. (Make checks
payable to American
Cancer Society.)
5. Do you know anyone
who has not been affected by cancer in some way? I don’t think I do.
This fight
is everyone’s fight.
4. Dedicate your contribution to someone who has
either lost
his/her fight with cancer or is currently in the fight. I am dedicating
this
run to all those people fighting the fight, as well
as those who have lost
their fight, especially my father who lost his fight with cancer in
1979.
3. Because of You dollars are raised to
support
programs and services that benefit patients during their cancer
journeys.
2. Because each of us can make a
difference.
Dave Mesner, cancer survivor from Duluth, Minnesota had this to say,”
When
I was Relay For Life Honorary Chair, I was
asked what
comes back to
our community from the money we raised, I replied, ‘I came back.’”
1. We will eventually cure cancer. Why not help find
the cure
a little sooner?
Dave Martin
573-8155
AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE
On
Why overnight? When a
person is healthy, days are full of
sunshine and life is good. A cancer diagnosis is like entering a dark
night - a
time of uncertainty and fear about the future. Early detection and
modern
medicine increase the odds of surviving cancer and keeping it in
remission,
bringing a new "dawn" as the darkness fades, along with hope of renewed
health and a bright future.
Relay for Life is
actually a fund raiser within a festival,
featuring live entertainment, children's activities, cancer education,
snacks,
and a pancake breakfast in a festival-like atmosphere. Most teams camp
out all
night in a giant slumber party! At
Why
Relay?
Cancer does not
discriminate. It
affects all in its path—family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Why Relay? At Relay hundreds of
people-old, young, cancer-free
and cancer survivors- experience what Relay is all about: A community
supporting people who have been afflicted with cancer. Survivors
meeting other
survivors, the newly diagnosed meeting someone with the same form of
cancer and
comparing notes, finding someone to share with.
Why
Relay? Relay
is the chance to celebrate
with several hundred other participants and spectators. There will be
excitement, fellowship, laughter, tears and celebration.
Why
Relay?
Because of the sense of
togetherness, that nothing is greater than family and friends, letting
survivors knowing they are not alone.
Why
Relay? Relay
reassures those who have
lost loved ones to cancer that they have a support group and that those
who
lost their fight will never be forgotten.
Why Relay?
Relay empowers everyone to fight back against cancer right in their own
backyard.
Why Relay? We are asked to find
ways we can be Christ to others.
Relay is one way
I have found.
How can
you be a part
of this?
1. Make a contribution to
your church’s/parish’s team.
2. Help form a church/parish
team
3. Make a contribution to
Dave’s team
(Make checks payable to American
Cancer Society)
Please contact me with
any questions you may have
Dave Martin
Relay for Life co-chair
362-8061 ext 202
573-8155
EVERY ONE OF US HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO GET CANCER…
AND THE POTENTIAL TO CURE
IT
May 11-12 Cornell
June 9
 |
Relay at UNI - April
13-14 What a great event! The UNI relay is one of the top college relays in the country! Nearly $100,000 was raised at this event!!! The honary chair was Conner--pictured at left on the cover of the relay booklet; another reminder that cancer does not discriminate... he was too sick from his most recent chemo treatment to attend but his mom spoke at the beginning of the Survivors' Lap. I started my marathon after that---at 9:30 p.m, (By mile 10 it was ALREADY past my bedtime) Thanks to all the students who took turns running with me during the night. The support of all the other Relay participants as we made our way through 131 laps was great. It was my first marathon involving running over extension cords, dodging footballs, frisbees, soccer balls and baseballs...but its uniqueness makes it memorable. A BIG thanks to UNI Relay co-presidents Lindsey Qualley and Sarah Schneider for all their work and for allowing me to be a part of the UNI Relay! |
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The 1st Annual Relay for Life of the University of Iowa raised approximately $50,000! The committee should be very proud of such a successful event! And just like last week there were many students who made it more enjoyable by joining me throughout my run. A big thanks to co-chairs Melissa Smith and Casey Koschmeder for all their work and for allowing me to be a part of U of Iowa's first Relay!
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We collected over $150 to add to the Cornell Relay totals with the "Dollar Lap Jar" -we asked participants to drop in a donation if they wanted to run with me--quite a few did! THANKS!
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Nice weather...great event...no photos of me running however