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Friday, July 28, 2006
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RELAY for LIFE: Katie's Crew keeps growing
Staff Writer When Katie Calkins was little, she used to think the Relay For Life in Brainerd was a party held just for her.
Now 9 and cancer free, Katie prays often for people she knows who have cancer and serves as a role model for people of all ages who are battling cancer.
The fourth-grader at Cuyuna Range Elementary School in Crosby will serve as the honorary youth chair for Friday's Relay For Life. Pam Bye is the adult honorary chair for the event.
Katie, the daughter of Doug and Gay Calkins of Deerwood, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia on Jan. 10, 2000, when she was only 2. It took two months for doctors to diagnose the young girl, who had been suffering from sores, aches and was often tired.
"She was a sick little girl," her mom, Gay, said of Katie. "We didn't know how sick she was."
Katie underwent frequent chemotherapy regimens until she was 7 and was only considered cancer-free two years ago.
Katie was 5 the first time she walked in the Relay For Life in Brainerd, a group of church members and friends from Light of the Cross Church in Garrison formed Katie's Crew. Katie's head was bald and the Katie's Crew T-shirt she wore was huge on her as she walked the track, recalled her mother.
Now Katie's Crew has grown so much there are 22 team members on two teams. The team includes her parents and two sisters, Angie, 16, and Nikki, 14. Katie and her sisters this week decorated 32 luminaries people have sponsored to support the event including several in honor of Katie.
If you go
Community members are invited to go to Don Adamson Field at Brainerd High School this Friday night and support the Relay For Life teams as they raise funds for the American Cancer society.
Starting at 5 p.m. will be a silent auction, raffle, children's activities and food for the whole family, including chicken and corn on the cob provided by Ernie's On Gull and pulled pork sandwiches by T.J.'s Log Cabin.
A survivor's reception will be 5:30-7 p.m. Friday for anyone who has heard the words, "You have cancer." All cancer survivors are encouraged to attend the reception.
Opening ceremony and survivors' lap begins at 7 p.m. and the sheriff's department "Slammer Jammer Jail and Bail" will begin at 8 p.m.
From 9:30-10 p.m., the lighting of thousands of luminaries will take place in honor of or in memory of those who have fought cancer. They are available for a $10 suggested donation at the event or at People's National Bank in Brainerd or Crosby during the day on Friday.
Last year Relay for Life raised over $153,000 for research, education and patient services for the American Cancer Society. This year there are over 45 teams and close to 500 people who have been out in recent months raising funds for the event.
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Katie said she's looking forward to Friday's Relay because it's the first time her parents have allowed her to stay the entire night at Don Adamson Field with many of the other walkers who walk the track throughout the night. Her mom said it's often difficult to get Katie off the track because she likes to walk as much as she can during the event.
Katie said she likes walking the survivor's lap with the other cancer survivors but mostly, she just likes being there. Relay For Life is something she won't ever miss.
"I like everything," said Katie with a smile. "Because it's fun."
A likely companion for Katie's overnight stay is her Beanie Baby Chihuahua named Tiny, who is a special stuffed animal. Tiny has been everywhere with Katie, including along on her hospital stays. It was the first of many Beanie Babies she has received from friends and family while she was battling leukemia.
"My husband and I think there's something even more special (about Katie since her cancer diagnosis)," said her mom. "She's caring and sensitive to other people."
Raising funds for the Relay For Life won't end for the Calkins early Saturday morning. Gay Calkins will be manning the root beer float booth at Light of the Cross Church in Garrison on Saturday, an event held on the same day as the Garrison Play Days. All proceeds from the sale of root beer floats go toward the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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