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Walking for Mary Jane
Published 01:39 p.m., June 27, 2009
The Relay for Life event took on a special meaning this year for the Fergus Falls Curves team.
Just a couple weeks ago, the team lost their co-worker and friend, Mary Jane Hoff, to the very disease they are walking to fight.
“This year, it took a more personal turn for our team,” said team captain Kristi Edman, who had walked with Hoff in Relay for Life for the past five years.
“She tried to hang in for it,” Edman said.
Together, the group raised the funds for 87 luminaries, which they decorated in honor of Hoff and added to the circle of other luminaries lit in commemoration of those who have been affected by cancer.
This was the first Relay for Life for Elaine Hotchkiss, who was asked to join the Curves team in honor of her sister, Hoff.
“It’s going to be a tough night, but well worth it,” she said.
For Hotchkiss, there are many reasons to take a stand against cancer. She’s also lost her dad and brother to the disease.
You didn’t have to look very far to find someone at Friday’s Relay For Life who had a close connection to someone affected by cancer.
Sitting right next to Hotchkiss was Vonnie Swenson, who last year first became involved with Relay for Life.
“Relay for Life is the most awesome thing,” she said.
Swenson has lost her step-sister to cancer, and has seen both her step-father and step-mother battle through the disease. She was also a close friend of Hoff’s.
Also on the Curves team was Steph Hoff, Hoff’s daughter-in-law.
“I’m just doing it in honor my mother-in-law,” Steph said.
Steph has also recently learned that her brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, adding even more inspiration to this year’s event.
“Cancer has touched everyone’s lives,” Edman said. “This is something small you can do to help fight.”
Relay for Life events kicked off around 4:30 p.m. Friday and continued on until 6 a.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds in Fergus Falls. All money raised will be donated to cancer research.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by lulu4u (anonymous) on June 29, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also lost a sister to cancer and recently a very good friend thank you people.
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