Jessica Foster
Staff WriterCoopís Crew has a reputation around Forest Lake. They haul in the funds.
Award winners for raising high dollars in the Forest Lake Relay for Life, the team is captained by Mary Ann Cooper.
In 2003, the team took in $9482, coming in second to Donnaís Darlings, who raised $9786.
They donít mind coming in second, they like to share the glory. Still, it is their work to spread awareness and raise funds. About half of Coopís Crew members are cancer survivors.
Last yearís walk was dedicated to one of their own, Mike Gemeiner. A former team member, he died of colon cancer.
This year, his daughter, Taylor, will walk in his place.
ìI think thatís pretty neat that she does that in the name of her dad,î Cooper said.
Founded in 1999, the team has roots dating back to the inception of Forest Lakeís Relay for Life event.
Stars of the Night was comprised of cancer survivors. They broke off and started off shoot teams.
ìI like to see the community pull together for a common cause,î Cooper said. ìItís obviously very near and dear to my heart.î
A 13-year breast cancer survivor, Cooper said events like the Forest Lake Relay for Life are important.
Cooper said she is committed ìto continue working for the cause so there is more hope for our children.î
Whether part of a team or not, Cooper encourages community members to come to the Relay for Life when it begins at 6 p.m. Friday, August 6.
ìWe welcome the whole community to come to the Relay. We especially welcome all cancer survivors to take part in the survivor lap,î she said.
The survivor lap, led by bagpipers, is remarked to be an emotional commencement to the 12 hour event.
ìItís pretty touching, thereís quite a few tissues being distributed,î Cooper said.
Cooper is not only captain of her team, Coopís Crew, but a coordinator for the event. Cooper and others, when not walking the track or spending time with team members, counts money. This year, organizers hope to count to the sum of $110,000.
Last year, the relay event brought in $109,276.
The event
Relay for Life is scheduled for August 6-7 at the Forest Lake High School track.
Teams of 8-15 people take turns, relay style, walking the track over a 12-hour period. Teams are encouraged to camp out overnight and enjoy entertainment provided during the event.
There will be 4200 communities hosting Relay for Life events in the United States this year. The events are expected to raise more than $300 million.
The Forest Lake event is sponsored in part by The Edwardís Foundation, Novak Pontiac-Buick-GMC Truck, JL Schwieters Construction, Fairview Health Services and TCF.
The team
To purchase a luminary or a raffle ticket for the Pontiac Sunfire donated by Novak Pontiac-Buick-GMC Truck, from Coopís Crew, contact Cooper at the new Meadows on Fairview or call her at home at 651-464-8758.
Luminaries and raffle tickets also will be available at the Relay for Life event.
Coopís Crew is sponsored by Donovanís Distributing of Forest Lake.
Top of Page
