NEW ULM - Twenty-three teams including five virtual teams took part in the 15th Annual Brown County Relay For Life Friday night and early Saturday morning at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
Music, games and food were set up to entertain the crowd and keep survivors and volunteers going in their quest to raise money for American Cancer Society education, advocacy, research and services.
Honorary chairpersons for the event were New Ulmites Kari Schwartz and her father Paul Wendinger.
Schwartz discovered a lump in her neck in March 1992 and was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease a month later.
After six months of chemotherapy treatment at Minneapolis Children's Hospital, Schwartz' cancer went into remission.
Doctors told Kari and her husband Ryan it was unlikely they could have their own children but they have two boys and a girl.
Paul Wendinger became ill in 2005.
A Mankato doctor noticed a shadow on his liver and sent him to Fairview Hospital for more tests.
Wendinger was referred to Rochester where he was diagnosed with liver disease with a recurring tumor.
Treatments included two chemo infusions, chemo embolization and several kinds of oral chemo drugs.
He was diagnosed with a bacterial blood (staph) infection in 2009 that made his made his arm and leg muscles go limp.
Treatment included surgery on both shoulders and a knee. Bone from his hip was grafted to his vertebrae to protect it after a tumor was found on it.
Five radiation treatments followed surgery.
Wendinger tried just about every traditional and experimental form of treatment he could find.
He is getting physical and occupational therapy at the New Ulm Medical Center.
He recently accomplished his goal of walking by himself again.
"We'll keep smiling," Wendinger said.
He decided to stop getting chemotheraphy treatments earlier this year after getting so sick late last December, he had to spend more than two months at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.
Harold Bartz of Sleepy Eye was among more than 100 other cancer survivors marching Friday.
Since 1988, he has had cancer of the colon, bladder, prostate and continues to battle leukemia with two daily chemo pills.
"He's got a real positive attitude," Harold's wife Bev said.
"We're very thankful our local doctor, (Michael) Ecker referred him to the Mayo Clinic and got him an early diagnosis, which is important," she added.
Harold said he stays busy with his vegetable and flower gardens.
"I don't have time to think about my cancer. I'm getting my raspberries and strawberries ready for the county fair," he said.
Sue Dietz, who co-chaired the event with Lisa Boehlke, said some people have been part of Relay of Life since it began including a New Ulm Medical Center team.
Not counting the 2010 Relay for Life, a total of 333 teams have participated in the event including 3,722 walkers who stayed up all night to help raise $1,266,310 for the American Cancer Society.
Excluding 2010, 80,818 luminaria have been lit in honor and in memory of those who have battled cancer.
Team members raised money by selling items, playing games like bean bag toss and other activities including face painting and children's games.
American Cancer Society cancer prevention tips:
Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol can sharply reduce oral cancer risk, even after years of use.
The more alcohol a person consumes, the higher the risk of certain cancers. Consuming alcohol and tobacco greatly increases risks.
Lung cancer, often caused by smoking, is the leading cause of cancer deaths.
One-third of cancer deaths are due to lack of proper nutrition, physical activity and excess weight.
Smoke-less tobacco products have more nicotine than cigarettes and cause certain cancers.
Cancer-fighting foods include red grapes, blueberries, mushrooms and tomatoes.
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.
