2019 Relay for Life

Page 6 2019 RELAY FOR LIFE MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS JUNE 19, 2019 Weidhuner thanked all the organizers and event leadership team for the hard work that helped make the event possible and said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” After the official introduction of the honorary chairs, Gordon and members of Dale Lessen’s family shared their stories before leading off the survivor’s lap, which is the first lap of the day. Gordon said five years ago she discovered an “odd patch” on her arm which turned out to be melanoma. She had surgery, but required no other treatments. More recently, Gordon was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had surgery, then chemotherapy. She will eventually have thyroid surgery for a nodule on her thyroid. Gordon has two sisters and she said one spent the first night with her at the hospital and the other sister convinced her to have the spot on her arm checked. The sister who wanted Gordon to get the spot checked shares a birthday with her and was also recently diagnosed with cancer. The prayers of many friends and family have made a difference, and Gordon said she is blessed that God has been so good. Quoting Dr. Seuss, Gordon said, “Oh, the places you’ll go,” and connected with such as the hospital, appointments, relay events, church and spending time with friends. Speaking for the family of Dale Lessen was his sister Susan Gelbach. Gelbach said Lessen sponsored the relay for many years and had been a member of the Angels all around team since the team started in 1996. Their mother had cancer and died in 2003. Gelbach said her brother Dale collapsed while working in the field this past April. He was given CPR and sent to ALMH then transferred to Memorial. Lessen had suffered a brain aneurysm and sadly did not survive. He donated several organs. Gelbach thanked everyone for supporting the relay. The survivor’s lap included many from around Logan County who have survived cancer and as the lap started each survivor was given a carnation donated by Bee’s Floral and Landscaping, Debbie’s Downtown Floral and Forget Me Not Floral. This lap was followed by the caregiver’s lap, and Kurtz said they are often guardian angels for those they care for. Kurtz introduced this year’s teams as they took their first laps. The teams were: Angels All Around Dana’s Team Ethel’s Angels Emblem Angels Faith, Hope, and Love Friends Walking for a Cure Friends & Family Relay Team Gail’s Pumpkin Patch Jigglers Lincoln CEFCU Oh the Places You’ll Go Purpose Driven People St. John’s UCC Remembers Super Papa’s Team Team CUREage Team Kayla The Rack Pack Tictacs Each of these teams had personal connections to cancer and some had a survivor walking Continued n