Beyond Grateful

Barb Geer

Friday, October 12th, marked the day that Trails to Treatments Chair Mardy Anderson announced the tally for the year. To say that the recipients of the grants are grateful is one thing, but it’s yet another thing to attempt to convey the gratitude of the TTT Committee to the area communities, individuals, businesses and organizations who contribute to the cause, making the entire grant process possible!

Mardy then recounted the events of the Cancer Benefit and Ride held in Middle River over Labor Day weekend: There are so many great events throughout the weekend that you can truly say there is something for everyone! For the horse lovers (since the event is sponsored by the North Country Horsemen Saddle Club), there’s the Fun Run, two trail rides (one short and one long), Play Day at the Ornquist Arena, and horse rides and games for the kids.

For music lovers, there was a Friday evening karaoke contest with fourteen great entries (1st Place went to Brennan Kirkeide, 2nd Place to Justine Johnson, 3rd Place to Marlo Lorenson and People’s Choice to Arrie Klassen), Saturday afternoon music on the outdoor stage (thanks to Donovan Ruud, DJ Bernstein, Rick Wiseman, Brent Wally, Scott Kilen, Bailey Wattne, Marlo Lorenson and Nathan Bukowski), and evening dance music with Jason Rominski and Friends.

Friday evening’s chili contest had many varieties to sample and, while attendees filled their bellies, judges selected the winners. The top honors went to: 1st - Dianne Anderson, 2nd - Stacy Bierman, 3rd and People’s Choice - Tom Super.

A “just for fun” activity that induced much laughter and cheering was the Goat Milking Contest on Friday evening. Winners were: 1st Place, Marc and Shirley Horien; 2nd Place, Kefer Stenmark and Garret Rominski; 3rd Place, Terhya Nyegaard and Shannon Peterson. Others enjoyed wagon rides provided by Tony Reller and his team of horses. 

The most poignant event, and the one that everyone waits for is the Cancer Tribute Ceremony. Marky Van de Streek, who has battled cancer for years with a positive can-do attitude, from Thief River Falls was the featured speaker. Justine Klassen and Randy Larson, a father-daughter team, provided the music. Kristi Westlund rode for Mark Peterson and carried the American flag, Rena Peterson rode and carried the Trails to Treatments flag, and Jessie Cervantes rode and carried the North Country Horsemen flag. All flag carriers are battling cancer. One of the most touching moments in the ceremony is the parade of the riderless horse, which signifies and pays tribute to those who have lost their battle with cancer. This was followed by the wagon filled with survivors and caregivers, driven by Tony Reller and his team of horses. The Roseau County Posse and the 2018 Cancer Ride participants concluded the procession.

The Cancer Tribute Ceremony was followed by the Live Auction and drawings from the meal tickets and raffle prizes. All the prizes were donated, and it was the largest raffle to date! Winners were: The quilt made and donated by Barb Geer was won by Anthony Lorenson.

1st Prize – 2 Nights Lodging for 4 people at Sunset Lodge on Oak Island - Courtesy of Davidsons, Hetteens & Millers was won by Dolly Rasmussen.

2nd Prize – 1 Day Fishing Trip on LOW for up to four people – Donated by Ray’s Guide Service 218-230-5271 was won by Sara Scheef.

3rd Prize – Tailgate Bench – Donated by M & R Triple T Ranch was won by Cookie Melby.

4th Prize  –  Thompson Center Arms Compass .308 caliber Rifle – Donated in Memory of Daryl Johnson & Anita Hible was won by Connie Beito.

5th Prize – Thompson Center Arms Compass .22-250 caliber Rifle – Donated by Underdahl Hardware Hank of Newfolden, Karlstad, Red Lake Falls and Thief River Falls was won by Val Shambeau.

6th Prize – Queen Size Quilt, Half Square Log Cabin – Made and donated by Adele Rosencrans and Dana Jenkins was won by Patricia Carlson.

7th Prize – Portable Air Compressor, Iron Horse 1.5HP, 20 Gallon – Donated by Fleet Supply, Thief River Falls, MN 218-681-2850 was won by Steve Corcoran.

8th Prize – John Deere Trike with Pull Behind Wagon - Donated in memory of Paul Erickson was won by Amanda Tungseth. 

9th Prize  – John Deere 16” Boys Bicycle with training wheels – Donated by Evergreen Implement, Thief River Falls, MN was won by Ron Ketscheaur.

In just over six years, 684 grants have been to 580 recipients. Eighty-two people have received more than one grant. (Cancer patients can apply for a grant each year, providing they are still receiving treatment.) The total dollar amount for grants paid out as of October 12th, 2018, is $352,300!

In 2017, grants given averaged 13.4 per month, and in 2018, it’s just slightly higher at 13.7 grants per month so far. The majority of the grants have been given within a six-county base area consisting of Marshall, Roseau, Kittson, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake counties. 86.6% of the grants have been awarded in those area. 

None of this would have been possible without the advent of teams joining the effort to raise funds throughout the year. TTT currently has fourteen teams working with the event: the Retired Flaming Flamingos, Textron/Arctic Cat, Gracie’s Tackle Cancer, Northern Hope/Altru Clinic of Roseau, Paul’s Family of Hope, Flying V Cancer Fighters, St. Hilaire Community Club, Greater Middle River Community Choir, Keyboards of Kindness, Trash the Dress, Klub Club, St. Hilaire Vintage Snowmobile Show, Eagles Aerie #2368 of Thief River Falls, and Gentilly Rocky Ridge Riders.

New this year was a trophy to be presented to the team that raised the most money. The Top Dollar Trophy was awarded to the Gentilly Rocky Ridge Riders who contributed a total of $15,200! 

Each year, the number of grants has risen. At the 2015 Appreciation Supper, the total given to date was $99,700. In 2016, that number rose to $163,900. 2017 saw an increase to $252,100, and this year so far, the dollar amount given out is $353,300. 

So we are grateful for all of those things. And we hope that the “Attitude of Gratitude” that Trails to Treatments has sparked in northwestern Minnesota is one that goes on and on. So many have given that we may continue to ease the lives of people in need. For that we are truly grateful. “It is not happiness that brings us gratitude, but gratitude that brings us happiness.”

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~ Winston Churchill. All the Trails to Treatments people can say is, “Thank you!”