Relay for Life not

deterred

by rain

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--Even some late-evening thunderstorm action couldn't dampen the spirit of those who had come out to the Brown County Fairgrounds Friday for the annual Relay For Life.

A total of $93,650 was raised for the fight against cancer, according to Beth Zabel, chairperson of this year's event.

Both survivors of cancer and those who had died of the disease were to be honored with the lighting of hundreds of luminarias, candles in sand-filled paper sacks.

However, rainstorms rolled over New Ulm just before the scheduled lighting at 9 p.m., making it impossible to light most of the luminarias.

"We were able to light enough candles at the grandstand to spell out 'Hope 2001,'" Zabel said, "but the rest were just too damp to be lit."

Each luminaria carried the name of a relative or friend who had lost his or her fight with cancer.

Because of the lightning, spectators were told that they might be safer at home.

"But a number stayed so we did continue some activities," Zabel said. The event started at 7 p.m. and concluded 12 hours later, at 7 a.m.

An integral part of the night's activities was the walk around the track in front of the grandstand.

About 150 persons who had successfully battled cancer walked in the survivor's lap which led off the walk.

Led by an American Legion color guard, the group walked the full length of the track, speaking their names and the length of their individual battles into a microphone as they passed in front of the bleachers.

The group included older residents who had battled the disease for as long as 30 years and youngsters' whose battles had lasted only months.

This was followed by successive "heats" well into the night as others showed their support for those who had survived and their respect for the heroic battle waged and lost by others.

The American Cancer Society relay was sponsored locally by Hy-Vee, Dittrich Specialties, New Ulm Telecom, The Journal, Wells Fargo, Alliance Bank, Norwood Promotional Products, D&A Trucking and the Brown County Agricultural Society, operator of the Brown County Fair.