Why One Woman Participates In Plymouth-Wayzata Relay For Life

First it was her mother. Then her brother, and her aunt and uncle.

For Laura Isdahl, 17, of Plymouth, cancer has hit her family hard.
That's one of the many reasons why she participates and co-chairs the Plymouth-Wayzata Relay for Life team. 

"In sixth grade, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer," Laura said. "She was only in her early 40s, which is very young to be diagnosed, and they fortunately caught it very early. So with many chemotherapy treatments and a double mastectomy she became cancer free."

Then during the winter of Laura's freshman year at Wayzata High School, her brother, Tim, who was a sophomore at the time, was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer. He had to undergo intense chemo treatment as well and have several major surgeries, but, he too, is now cancer free.  

"Two out of five of my family members have had cancer, not to mention my aunt who had breast cancer and my uncle who died from lung cancer," she said. "And many, many of my neighbors and friends have been impacted by cancer as well."

Laura had had enough. She followed her brother's lead and joined her local Relay for Life committee and became the co-chair the past two years.

This year is the fourth annual Relay for the team and there are around 200 participants with even more who have been involved with making the event happen, she said.

"Individual donators, local businesses giving gift cards and hosting fundraising nights, and school staff at Wayzata, Orono, and West Lutheran have helped the event in a variety of different ways," Laura said.  "Coming to an actual Relay for Life event can change a person's life. The ceremonies -- particularly the Luminaria ceremony at 9:30--is life-changing. It is a time when we remember the ones we have lost to cancer and vow to fight back."

For Laura it is the most emotional ceremony, but people always say afterward that it is their favorite part, she said.
 
"Changing these people's lives is so important and the fight against cancer is as well so when we all come together joining against it we are truly making a difference," Laura said.

The event goes all night because "cancer never sleeps," she said. "If cancer doesn't, we won't either."

The location is at Wayzata West M.S. this year because the group had outgrown its former location at Wayzata Central Middle School. The event lasts until 4:30 a.m.