Posted: 8/6/03

Lino Lakes tot is a survivor

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Isabel Klein took part in Forest Lakeís Relay for Life on Friday night, but she didnít walk or run the track.

Thatís not unusual considering Isabel was born on May 30, 2002. But the little gal from Lino Lakes is none the less a cancer survivor.

She took part in the communityís annual summer fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society resting in the arms of her parents, Carol and Lance Klein.

When Isabel Faith Klein was born a little over 14 months ago, she came into the world with a form of germ cell cancer. She is now in remission after receiving treatment and surgery when she was just four months old.

The youngster wonít remember much of the Aug. 1-2 Relay for Life when sheís older, but those taking part last weekend were inspired by the fight in this young child.

She was just one of approximately 400 participants who formed 34 teams for this yearís Relay for Life, the 10th such event in Forest Lake.

When the tallying was completed early this week, the relay had generated $109,276 for the American Cancer Society. The event opened with a goal of $130,000, a $10,000 increase over the goal from the 2002 relay.

Julianne Carr, one of the volunteers who helped run the event, said the fact the goal here was not achieved should not be taken as a negative. Many relays in other communities are falling short this year, she said.

ìItís our economy right now,î Carr said. ìWe felt like we did fine.î

The total of 34 teams also fell below pre-relay targets established for the Forest Lake event.

Relay details

Relay workers said Monday some 5000 candle lit luminaries lined the track at Forest Lake High School. Each luminary was in honor of a cancer survivor or in memory of a life lost to cancer.

Close to 100 cancer survivors took part in the survivor lap to open the relay Friday night. The relay continued for 12 hours on the high school track.

Three veteran Relay for Life teams led the fund-raising effort.

Donnaís Darlings was the top team with $9786.90.

Placing second was Coopís Crew with $9482.

Third was Looney Tunes with $8060.

Among individuals, Jane Soler was the top fund-raiser with $2190. She edged Linda VanMeter by $13. VanMeter had $2177 in dollars collected. Donna Winberg was third with $1925.

The silent auction netted $3380.50 for the cause.

With this yearís relay now on the books, planning will begin for the 2004 event. A chair person to lead the event is still a void in the local planning.

Carr continued to work on the relay this year but stepped away from her leadership duties of the past half dozen years. Event workers hope to have a new leader in place well in advance of next summerís event, Carr said.

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