Race for a cure at Relay

People from all over the county flocked to the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna Friday night for the 26th year of the Relay For Life in Steele County.
“The relay started in 1985 with one person,” Rick Jeddeloh of the American Cancer Society said. “You’re all here because of one person.” That person was Dr. Gordon Klatt who, in 1985, walked and ran for 24 hours on a track in Tacoma, Wash., in order to raise money for cancer.
Jeddeloh, a cancer survivor of nine years, shared the history of the event to all those in attendance and thanked them for their support. “Without the relay, we wouldn’t have the stories that we have,” he said. “When the relay started in 1985 there were 4 million survivors in the U.S., in 2016 there’s 16 million survivors in the U.S.”
Each survivor has a story to tell, survivors like Maggie Dixon, who was first diagnosed in 1993 with breast cancer. At the start of this year, Dixon was also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “I feel very blessed to be asked to say a few words tonight,” she told the audience. “So many of you have stories to tell about you’re journey.”
“My journey with cancer started in 1993,” she said. “My second bout came in 2010 with the same breast.” Dixon explained that in January of this year doctors also found cancer in her kidney which started in her pancreas. “The good news is that I have made it 26 years and much of it was due to research, early detection, good surgery and excellent health care.”
Dixon also credited the support of family and friends, including her husband and daughter. “I had my first bout with cancer in 1993, and how ironic that it was the same year that the walk started in Owatonna,” she said.
She also attributed her strength to a strong personal faith in God, something she shares with her doctor. “Christ is the big ‘C’ and cancer is the little ‘c’,” she said. “Be grateful for each and every day, look at the glass half full, and have faith and trust. I am grateful for family and friends for all their prayers, love, and support.”
Another survivor who credits faith, Tom Johnson, also shared his story. Johnson was diagnosed with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma this past fall, but with chemo therapy and a strong conviction, he was able to battle through it and overcome it.
He recalled the time his doctor, the same doctor who treated Dixon, told him that he would pray for him. “God put a doctor who is a Christian in my life,” Johnson said. “He said that he would pray for me too, and that he would pray for peace for my wife and I, and he would pray for wisdom for both of us.”
Johnson credits the faith and support of those around him with helping him through such a tough time in his life, including members of his parish and the young folks who are part of the Christian youth group he volunteers in. “There’s so much I’m grateful for, first of all my relationship with Jesus, without him I couldn’t have done this, my family, my Bible study group, my church, and the kids in my youth group,” he said.
“Hearing people say that they’ve been praying for me every day is very humbling,” he said. “The response was unbelievable, there was about 300 people who attended my fundraiser. I felt like George Bailey from the movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.” After recounting his story, Tom Johnson, this year’s honorary chair, thanked all those who volunteer.
For all those who participated in the relay, and those who are currently going through their own battles with cancer, survivors like Dixon and Johnson help give them hope and inspiration.  “The event so far has raised $53,034,” the evening’s MC John Connor said before the survivors inaugurated the relay by taking the first lap.