Despite an early rain shower, about 60 teams, who refused to be washed out, participated Saturday for Relay for Life at Century High School, where the track was lined with thousands of luminaria.
"The rain got us drenched," said Kathleen Donahue, a member of the team Masters of Disasters and media chair for the 23rd annual event, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
High participation in Bismarck makes the event a "mega" fundraiser, regularly bringing in more than $200,000.
Deb Leingang, one of three Survivor Ambassadors, was a healthy 57-year-old registered nurse when she was diagnosed.
"I had no idea, on my radar, cancer was lurking," said Leingang, who opted for a double mastectomy to deal with her breast cancer.
"I don't think you have to be a hero to go through chemo, but, after it, you sure do feel like one. To me, (family and friends) are the heroes ... my hat's off to these people," said Leingang, who is now cancer free after undergoing chemotherapy beginning in December of 2013.
Sheila Geffre, another Survivor Ambassador, spoke at the event, which began at 5 p.m. in a festive atmosphere that included sales of food, caramel rolls, German hamburgers and pulled pork from pavilion tents. Signs close by read, "Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back."
"You can't plan for tomorrow. Tomorrow's a question mark. But after living 13 years of 'todays,' cancer is still part of me. But it does not define me," said Geffre, who has done battle with an extremely aggressive brain cancer, which most recently killed Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden.
She likened having cancer to the kinds of life-changing moments that happen to everyone.
"The death of a child or a parent — God forbid, your house burns down .... we all have those major events that shape our lives, that change us," said Geffre, as she looked down at her son. "Just take a day at a time."
After the opening ceremony, cancer survivors lined up according to how many years they had survived, before walking a lap around the track. Later, caregivers and teams also walked separate laps. The event, which included a first aid station for the first time, continued until a closing ceremony at 4 a.m. Sunday.
"The rain got us drenched," said Kathleen Donahue, a member of the team Masters of Disasters and media chair for the 23rd annual event, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
High participation in Bismarck makes the event a "mega" fundraiser, regularly bringing in more than $200,000.
Deb Leingang, one of three Survivor Ambassadors, was a healthy 57-year-old registered nurse when she was diagnosed.
"I had no idea, on my radar, cancer was lurking," said Leingang, who opted for a double mastectomy to deal with her breast cancer.
"I don't think you have to be a hero to go through chemo, but, after it, you sure do feel like one. To me, (family and friends) are the heroes ... my hat's off to these people," said Leingang, who is now cancer free after undergoing chemotherapy beginning in December of 2013.
Sheila Geffre, another Survivor Ambassador, spoke at the event, which began at 5 p.m. in a festive atmosphere that included sales of food, caramel rolls, German hamburgers and pulled pork from pavilion tents. Signs close by read, "Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back."
"You can't plan for tomorrow. Tomorrow's a question mark. But after living 13 years of 'todays,' cancer is still part of me. But it does not define me," said Geffre, who has done battle with an extremely aggressive brain cancer, which most recently killed Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden.
She likened having cancer to the kinds of life-changing moments that happen to everyone.
"The death of a child or a parent — God forbid, your house burns down .... we all have those major events that shape our lives, that change us," said Geffre, as she looked down at her son. "Just take a day at a time."
After the opening ceremony, cancer survivors lined up according to how many years they had survived, before walking a lap around the track. Later, caregivers and teams also walked separate laps. The event, which included a first aid station for the first time, continued until a closing ceremony at 4 a.m. Sunday.
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