Staff photos by Gage Cureton Luminaria glow during dusk at the 24th Annual Brown County Relay for Life Friday at the Brown County Fairgrounds Friday. Over 4,000 luminaria were placed to commemorate loved ones’ who lost their battle with cancer.

NEW ULM — Cancer survivors and those affected in some way by the disease joined together Friday for the 24th Annual Brown County Relay for Life 2019 at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

Sponsored by The American Cancer Society, the event is held to raise money for education, advocacy, research and services.

According to The American Cancer Society Cancer Statistic Center, in 2019 in the United States, there will be an estimated 1,762,450 new cancer diagnoses and 606,880 deaths attributed to the disease.

In the opening ceremony, 2019 Relay for Life Honorary Chair Linus Kral, a cancer survivor, shared his story and his battle with cancer.

Kral said in the spring of 2010, after a routine physical exam and several biopsies, he was diagnosed with cancer. The doctor gave him three choices: do nothing, have his prostate removed, freeze the prostate through a process called cryoablation.

Kral said he chose the latter.

Kral being a farmer, said he didn’t want to be laid up during spring field work, and that the procedure went well. He said to this day, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels remain normal in his bloodwork.

Then in 2012, he discovered blood in his stool and doctors biopsied polyps found in his colon. Two came back cancerous and he underwent a surgery to remove 12 inches of his colon.

He then was scheduled to undergo 12 chemotherapy treatments, but only completed 6 after he started passing out at home. Kral decided he had enough chemo treatment and doctors agreed, stating it had done its preventative job.

After Kral shared his story, he said people should remain aware of not only their health, but of others as well. He said he feels fortunate his symptoms were caught early and he’s still here today.

According to The American Cancer Society, there are 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States.

At dusk, attendees lit luminaria to commemorate loved ones and friends who lost their battle to cancer.

Relay for Life Co-chairs Mickey Meyer and Sue Dietz said over 4,000 luminaria were placed throughout the fairgrounds. 20 teams, 14 active and 6 virtual, attended the event to show support. As of Friday, July 26, Meyer and Dietz aren’t sure of the total amount in donations received from the event, but are confident the event will raise more than last year’s $131,425.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.