Despite a last minute change to an indoor venue due to the weather, the annual Relay for Life of Becker on July 22 was a success, raising over $48,000 for cancer research,  reports Leadership Team member Bev Knutson. The event, held at the Becker High School, kicked off at 6 p.m. with a large crowd attending the opening ceremony, which included the presentation of flags by Becker Cub Scouts Pack 92 and the singing of the National Anthem by Laura Niday.

 

Pastor Julie Anderson of Faith Lutheran Church gave the invocation, after which Event Lead Cory Whiting welcomed everyone and recognized this year’s committee.

 

Honorary survivor Kris Samuelson was introduced, and honorary survivor Cindy Adelman, who sadly lost her battle with cancer just five days prior, was remembered, after which balloons were released and over 40 survivors participated in the survivor lap.

 

“I was honored by be recognized as an honorary survivor,” said Kris Samuelson. “I thought the night went great.”

 

Samuelson has battled five kinds of cancer beginning with Hodgkin’s when she was 12. She lost her husband in 2006 when he died in an avalanche in Colorado, and now her son is battling cancer with her.

 

Samuelson sent a message to anyone experiencing hardships in their life. 

 

“Don’t give up, there’s always friends and family.”

 

Along with the relay, a number of events occurred throughout the evening, including games, fire truck rides, a dunk tank and music by DJ Mike Doherty. Starz Dance Studio performed for the crowd, and the Building for a Cure Becker High School Robotics team had robotics demonstrations. 

 

Mike Garland’s team had a great showing, selling miscellaneous items and raffle tickets for a $2,000 quilt hand made by his sister, Lynn Hamacher. Close by, two younger members of the team, Brynn and Ethan Luethmers, were selling lemonade and water at their lemonade stand. Garland is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

 

First year team Tillie’s Ta-Ta’s and Tillie’s Tots had a beach theme going at their booth. They started their team in honor of their grandmother, Tillie.

 

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Tillie’s Ta-Ta’s team member Jill McDonough. “We’re very much looking forward to next year.”

 

Cindy Adelman’s family, team “Cindy’s Crew,” was at the event honoring Adelman, whose funeral had taken place that morning. Although she and husband, Tim, had been part of Relay for Life for close to 15 years, this was the first year they’d put together a team. Family members created a memory frame that included Adelman’s team t-shirt to help include her in the event. They were auctioning off an autographed Randall McDaniel football donated by Dennis Rzeszotarski. 

 

The luminaria ceremony was held at 9:30, honoring both survivors and those who have lost their battle to cancer. 

 

Around 10 p.m. a live stream from Mike Garland’s Walk was shown, with Garland encouraging the crowd to keep up the fight. The Fight Back Ceremony followed at 11 p.m., and midnight brought the closing ceremony and final lap.

 

Knutson was pleased with the results of the evening and the good showing of teams and survivors, which she said was always encouraging to see. She thanked everyone in the community for supporting the event and coming out, even with the last minute change to an indoor location.

 

Relay For Life is the world’s largest movement to end cancer, celebrating the determination, courage, and hope that makes progress against cancer possible.

 

For more information visit RelayForLife.org.

 

2016 Honorary Cancer Survivors

Cindy Adelman and 

Kris Samuelson

 

Avengers for a Cure

Kami Ziebarth

and Laura Niday

Becker Fire Department

Terry Foradory

Building for a Cure

Sierra Heitala and 

Kelsi Halvorson

Building Towards a Cure

Judy Haus and

Bud Stimmler

Cindy’s Crew

Emily Adelman

Circle of Friends

Donna Pozorski

Cousins for a Cure

Emma Hagen

Cutting Out Cancer

Laura Brown

LC Crusaders

Heather Lofgren 

and Eivonne Anderson

Mike + You = Cure

Mike Garland and 

Missy Luethmers

Papa’s Team

Shannon Fossman

Tillie’s Ta-Ta’s

Julie Alman

 

Clear Lake Lions Club

Becker Community Center

Becker High School

Sherburne State Bank

Hubbard Photography

Mike + You = Cure – 

Pacific Crest Trail

 

Special thanks for helping make Relay for Life of Becker 2016 possible

DJ Mike Doherty

Wruck Sewer & 

Portable Rental

Schmidt Signs

Conrad and Mary Olson

Becker Citizen Tribune

The Defenders

Rick Garland

Girl Scouts

Becker Cub Scouts Pack 92

Pastor Julie Anderson

Faith Lutheran Church

The Fagin Family

Starz Dance Studio

The Robotics Team

Hollyhock Alpaca 

Creations

By Crochetions by Abby

Gary Palmer

Christina’s Salon

T Nails

Green Bodycare

Apres Soleil

Country Lumber

TJ Potter

Escape MSP

Grande Depot

Monticello Kwik Trip

Manea’s Meats

St. Cloud Cash Wise

Crafts Direct

Becker Furniture World

Becker SNAP Fitness

Bernice Marshik

Jackie Johnson

Carla Stavos

DJ Bitzan Jewelers

Jack & Jims

Becker Football Coaches

Marshall Pearson

Dan and Stacey Angell

Pebble Creek

St. Cloud Paramount 

Theater

Guthrie Theater

Chanhassen Dinner Theater

Monticello Muller Theater

River City Extreme

Ray and Terri Mulvany

Cannon River Winery

Event Leadership 

Team Members

Eivonne Anderson

Mike Garland

Bev Knutson

Heather Lofgren

Missy Luethmers

Carrie Olson

Fran Seeley

Ann Sura

Nancy Weber

Cory Whiting

Jay Whiting