INDY has made the very tough decision to cancel all plans for a 2020 Gala (was re-scheduled for November 14th, 2020).

We did not feel a virtual option was the best fit and with so much uncertainty that 2020 has presented us, we have decided to move it back to our original month in March of next year.
While we recognize this is disappointing, nothing is more important than the health of our Indy Nation. We hope you will join us and purchase tickets to our new date: March 20th, 2021 at Jack & Jim's in Duelm, MN.

Due to the cancellation of our 2020 Gala plans, tickets will NOT be transferred to the new Gala date of March 20th, 2021. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

What can I do with my purchased tickets?

1. You can use your ticket purchase as a 100% tax deductible donation to the Indy Foundation.
   
2. Receive a full refund. If you would like a refund, please contact us here.

Tickets to our new date will be available for purchase soon. We hope to see you there!

We have made the difficult decision to reschedule the upcoming Bowties & Arrows Gala due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. INDY Foundation celebrates and works with warriors who have compromised immune systems and are often under going chemo treatments. With that said, the Bowties & Arrows Gala is about celebrating and honoring our INDY warriors. We want to keep them safe as well as our community members. 

Please mark your calendars and save the new date: November 14th, 2020. With this date change, the annual Gala will continue to be in the Fall. We look forward to celebrating with you in November. 

All tickets currently purchased will be transferred to the rescheduled date. If you were not able to attend in March - ticket sales are still open for November. You can purchase tickets here.

Thank you for the continued support of our INDY warriors and families. Together we make a difference in the lives of Minnesota’s cancer warriors!

The INDY Gala is our largest fundraiser of the year. To continue our mission of supporting Minnesota’s cancer warriors we will be having an online silent auction in April - stay tuned for details!!

Any questions or concerns regarding the rescheduled Bowties & Arrows Gala - feel free to reach out here.

Meet Mandy Tadych our Director of Administration. Mandy joined our tribe this summer and has been a great addition to the team. She is very driven, determined and has a passion for working out. She is a super step-mom to Caleb, her super hero who has cerebral palsy. Read more about Mandy below! 

1.Tell us about you: (Where ya from, married/single, kids, cats, dogs…maybe a fish- who knows. Just give us all the interesting things you want us to know)
I am from Foley, Live with my boyfriend Mike and his son Caleb.
2.What is your professional background?
I spent 15 years in healthcare in various positions including medical coding. Then I did a complete change and moved into banking as a residential loan processor and now as an SBA Loan Assistant at Falcon National Bank.
3.How did you connect with the INDY nation?
Through Kayla & Candi Janssen. I was asked to volunteer and enjoy being a part of it. 
4.Greatest accomplishment:
Taking charge of my life. There was a time when I let other people’s wants, needs and opinions influence the direction of my life. I didn’t’ like where I was heading so I decided to change that and it has proved to be an extremely positive and amazing life change. 
5.Greatest Adventure:
Climbing a waterfall in Jamaica. I think it was more dangerous than locals let on. It was exciting, then scary, regretful, exhilarating when it was over but I am not doing it again! 
6.One word that describes your purpose for how you live life?
Accountable 
7.Life motto:
Be open to people with differences
8.What is your superpower? 
It is said that being a cerebral palsy parent is a super power, so I guess that is it!
9.What is your At-Bat song (The song that gets you going or they would play if you were up to bat)? I don’t have one… too many to chose from! 
 
10.Where is the best place you have traveled?
I love Jamaica. Been there 4 times! 
 
11.One item on your bucket list: I don’t have a bucket list, I think it is morbid!
12.What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
Most people probably don’t know that I take a certain interest in houses. Especially old houses with lots of character. I love watching This Old House and enjoy watching them restore hold homes while adding in some modern additions. I would love to be on that show, not as a home owner but as a worker. Since I don’t possess any professional home restoration skills maybe I will find a project that might appeal to them yet on Ask This Old House. 
13.What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
Pontoon Rides & BBQ’s
14.What is your favorite thing to do for yourself? Relax in any way I can!
15.If you had an unlimited checkbook for one day, what would you buy?
Write one large check to deposit in savings to spend as I want over time! 
16.Tell us about someone you admire?
My Family – all of them. We are all unique individuals with special qualities but we always write weekly to spend time with each other and hang out with the one member that shines the brightest – Caleb! 

Name: Heidi Lampert
 
Hobbies: I have two nieces and four nephews who are all amazing kids and I love spending time with them. I enjoy watching football and hockey. I love listening to music and going out dancing with the girls. I hope to sharpen up on my photography skills and get out and take more pictures.
 
Cancer you battled: Breast
 
How long have you been a survivor: Over a year now!!!!!
 
 
Can you tell us a little about your story?
 
I found my lump in my right breast in November of 2017 and was diagnosed on December 20, 2017 with stage 1A Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. After that everything went so fast.... It was recommended that I do genetic testing because of my age to see if I had a mutation in my BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, I did not but do have a mutation in my ATM gene which is a moderate risk for breast cancer. I had my lumpectomy on February 1st of 2018 which removed the cancer and had lymph nodes removed but all were clear, no cancer present. I started chemotherapy on March 30, 2018 which consisted of 16 total visits of dose dense chemo. The first four visits, every other week, were AC, also known as the Red Devil and the other 12 visits, once a week, would be Taxol along with Herceptin. My last chemo was on August 10th,2018 and my CT scan done on August 30, 2018 showed no signs of returning cancer. I started radiation on September 17, 2018 and completed four weeks of that which was 5 five days a week.
 
 
 
We all have inner superpowers (a.k.a. character qualities). What are some of yours?
 
I enjoy making people laugh and smile and seem to do so with ease. I also have a very caring and warm personality which I hope makes people feel good when they need a moment or a smile to brighten their day.
 
What brings you joy and fulfillment (your work, your passions, your dreams, etc.)? 
 
My LittlesI have two cats, Frankie and Daisy, and they are absolutely my world!!!! I also love photography and reading, going to the races and spending time with family and friends.
 
What Does It Mean To Be A Cancer Survivor (Real life warrior)?
 
To me it means that I was able to face one of the deadliest diseases, Cancer, stare it straight in the face, stomp on it and show it who's boss. To be able to see that all things happen for a reason good and/or bad and that you have to live your life one day at a time and to the fullest extent possible!!!
 
Can you tell us about an influential person(s) who helped you during your battle or throughout your life? 
 
First and foremost ALL of the wonderful angels at the cancer center!!!without those people this journey would have been different. Second would have to be Mr. Herm. I never had him as a teacher at the school here but as a customer and friend we went through our battles together and used each other as inspiration.
 
 
What are some key things that helped you (mentally and physically) during the midst of your battle?
 
My Littles were a huge comfort. My family and friends along with all of my morning regulars and the people at the cancer center.
 
 
Knowing what you know as a cancer survivor, what words of wisdom would you give to someone else battling cancer? 
 
Always make sure to get your girls(breasts) checked and even get ahead of the game if you can with regular exams and check ups. Cancer doesn't discriminate and doesn't have to run in your family for you to get it. Thoughts, prayers and well wishes to those who are fighting, those who have fought and those we have lost to cancer... 

Meet Jaci a Foley High School Freshman. Jaci isn’t your average HS student, as she is on a mission to spread kindness in this world.

After experiencing some bullying and a stolen bike this summer, she went on a mission to spread kindness and give back. She graciously chose INDY Foundation as one of her ways to give back, generously donations $300 towards our little INDY Warriors.

A note from Jaci! ❤️
​Kindness is my JAM~
Jaci Anna’s Mission To Spread Kindness!
Kindness makes everything better and Jaci wanted to thank Kayla for everything she does for INDY- because no matter what you are going through- Kindness makes things better❤️
This event took place in Nimrod Mn- where Jaci thinks Kyle would approve because of all the hunting and 🎣 fishing! Items were sold- goods were baked and the Kindness Duck pond was a hit- she wouldn’t leave her stand for a min because she wanted to donate this time to INdY! ❤️🐝Kind always- Jaci

Meet Laura Pelant.
Laura is originally from St. Cloud Minnesota, now living in Big Lake with her cat Tux, dog Piper and a baby due January 2020. She loves all things outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and going to concerts.

She comes to us with a wealth of knowledge in the non profit sector having previously worked at Make- A-Wish Minnesota, Love Your Melon and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She has previously worked on Galas that have brought in over $800,000. We are beyond excited to have Laura join the INDY tribe!

1. What is your professional background? - I started my nonprofit career at Make-A-Wish Minnesota, first on the program team and then on the fundraising team. I then went to Love Your Melon, where I helped establish and run their non-profit. I now work at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation- Minnesota/Dakotas chapter as a Development Director!

2. How did you connect with the INDY nation? - I first learned about INDY from my aunt Lindsay, who is also a board member. In 2018, my aunt Cheryl was honored as an INDY warrior, and I saw firsthand how INDY nation blesses families across Minnesota.

3. Greatest accomplishment: This is a tough one- I’m not sure my greatest accomplishment has happened yet! In 2016 I completed the Ultra Looney Challenge, which is a 5k, 10k, and marathon all in the same weekend- it was definitely a one-time achievement! Professionally, I’m proud of a fundraising campaign I executed at Make-A-Wish that helped raise enough money to grant 9 wishes.

4.Greatest Adventure: My husband and I love to travel, and we’ve had some pretty incredible adventures along the way. I’d say our road trip to Yellowstone or watching the sunrise on Mount Haleakala in Maui are at the top of the list. But I think our greatest adventure is yet to come- our first child is due in January!

5. One word that describes your purpose for how you live life? Gratefully

6. Life motto: “I’ve always had the feeling that life loves the liver of it. You must live and life will be good to you, give you experiences. They may not all be that pleasant, but nobody promised you a rose garden. But more than likely if you do dare, what you get are the marvelous returns.” - Maya Angelou

7. What is your superpower? I can always find a good reason to throw a theme party! In all seriousness, I’d say my superpower is the ability to celebrate others.

8. What is your At-Bat song (The song that gets you going, or they would play if you were up to bat)? The Warrior, Patty Smyth

9. Where is the best place you have traveled? Yellowstone National Park or Maui

10. One item on your bucket list: Cage diving with sharks!

11. What is one thing most people don’t know about you? I have two middle names. Other than that, I’m pretty much an open book!

12. What is your favorite thing to do with your family? I love spending time outside with family- hanging out on the boat, skiing, grilling, bonfires, camping, etc.

13. What is your favorite thing to do for yourself? Right now, it’s definitely taking naps. Other than that, I love reading.

14. If you had an unlimited checkbook for one day, what would you buy? Gift cards to Amazon and Target- is that cheating? ​

15. Tell us about someone you admire? Before I started working in non-profits, I would have said someone like Eleanor Roosevelt. But the strongest, bravest people I’ve ever met are the kids and families I’ve had the honor of working with over the years. I’ve learned so much about resiliency, courage, and the power of love and community.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tom a couple weeks ago at a little pizza joint.  He was kind enough to give me an hour of his time, before hitting the golf course with his friends.
 
Every survivor story is amazing.  Every warrior touches my heart.  Tom was no exception.  He not only let me interview him, but he also seemed to interview me!  I walked away from our time together feeling very awestruck and inspired.  I walked away feeling motivated.  I walked away basking in this new friendship. 
 
You see, Tom didn’t want to do the interview.  He was very straight forward that he would ONLY do it, if I promised him nothing in return.  No presents, no monetary help.  He wanted to share his story, because he hopes to help others, just as you will learn in the following that others have done for him.

• Chelsea Markfort

 
 
Name: Tom
Job Title: Engineer
Hobbies: Golf, watch sports, bicycling, camping and outdoor activities, spending time with children and grandchild
 
Cancer you battled: Stage 3 plus rectal cancer, spread to prostate
 
Can you tell us a little about your story?
 
I was diagnosed May 17, 2017. We scheduled a colonoscopy, which I had on the second day of living in our new house. They told me right away in the recovery room that it was cancer. Everything went very fast and with precision from there.  My treatment was in three stages – 1 – combo chemo/radiation (several months), break -2- surgery in October. It was a very long recovery with some complications.  Stage 3- chemo therapy follow up again to make sure all cancer was caught, which was twelve rounds of treatment for that. It was in late August of 2018 that I had my final chemo treatment.
 
I currently go in for follow up for three months and then six months next treatment and will now go up to 12 month follow ups.
 
We all have inner superpowers (a.k.a. character qualities). What are some of yours?
 
I have a good sense of humor, helps make the bet of a bad situation.
 
What brings you joy and fulfillment (your work, your passions, your dreams, etc.)?
 
My family: my wife, my kids and my grandchild. You really realize what is important when you have the chance to lose it all.  I can live without a lot of things in life, but not my family.  I am also lucky to have good friends.
 
What Does It Mean To Be A Cancer Survivor (Real life warrior)?
 
It means opportunities that I am so thankful for, that I hope to take advantage of. Unfortunately, many well deserving people I know didn’t get to the opportunity I have to appreciate a second chance.
 
Can you tell us about an influential person(s) who helped you during your battle or throughout your life?
 
That list is really long.  I think that was a huge key to my approach. My parents.  My dad was a WW2 veteran.  They went through struggles that we knew nothing about.  They approached life by solving a problem and moving on.  Particularly in their later years, they were in a car accident that paralyzed her from the waist down.  My dad took care of her at home, never put her in a nursing home.  This happened when they were in their 70’s.
 
Tom is a friend of ours, he had a very bad cancer diagnosis several years ago.  I watched his approach.  This was long before my diagnosis, but I always thought if I ever had to fight it I would like to do it the way he did.
 
A friend who lost their battle.  She inspired me and I wonder “why her”.
 
It has been a blessing to have had this diagnosis later in life, so I am hoping my story can inspire others to take this approach.
 
 
What are some key things that helped you (mentally and physically) during the midst of your battle?
 
Once I knew about, I always broke it down in pieces.  Trying to look at it in totality can be very overwhelming.  By just breaking it down step by step, it made it more manageable.
 
Tremendous support from my wife!  I can’t even describe the benefit of having a rock solid partner that is there. 
 
Finding out and having a lot of friends and family, friends I didn’t even really have, reaching out to myself and my family was really powerful.
 
 
Knowing what you know as a cancer survivor, what words of wisdom would you give to someone else battling cancer?
 
Don’t ignore the symptoms.  The biggest thing is believe in your plan and once you do, just do it.  Attack this and don’t look back!
 
“It’s more about the ride than the destination”.  It isn’t going to be fun, but there are so many positive things that you can find in this journey.  Embrace those and shed away the bad stuff.
 
Role models are important. 
 
“There’s a million dollars worth of experience and I wouldn’t pay a nickel for it” – his dad
 
Men in particular tend to want to think everything will be fine and don’t want to get the preventative tests.  Accept the help.  There are a lot of people out there who want to help.  There is a lot of positive energy out there. I want to help.  If there’s anything I can say or do that would help someone, that would be my crowning achievement. 
 
What caregivers go through is so unrecognized and so under appreciated.  Tami, Britt and Sam were huge in this.  Even my granddaughter Olivia was a huge blessing during this.  She has such great energy and was so good to be around.
 

Neil’s story is unique in the fact that he actually graduated with Kyle Strand, the original INDY warrior.  Neil and Kyle actually went through their journeys at the same time.  While talking to Kayla, Neil and Kyle’s mom, Sue, they all mentioned the bond that Kyle and Neil shared, because of their health complications. 
​
I (Chelsea) originally reached out to Neil’s wife Erica, asking if she thought he would feel comfortable sharing his story, not only with me, but the entire INDY nation.  She told me that she wasn’t sure, as attention isn’t usually his thing.  She very soon told me that Neil agreed.  He said “he’d do it for Kyle”.

Can you tell us about your story? 
I got the flu in January of 2016. I got over it fairly quickly. A week later I got sick again. One night while I was playing with the kids on the floor, I felt like I had been stabbed in side with a knife.  The doctor I saw told me it was a pulled muscle and to take Ibuprofen.  A couple days later I saw purple spots on my feet.  I just thought it was broken blood vessels.  One night I bit into a plain M&M and thought that I broke my whole jaw. I couldn’t chew.  A couple days later that got better.  On February 19, I got up and did chores and had shortness of breath.  I would sit down, and it would get better, but it kept happening.  I finished morning chores and then took a nap.  When I woke up, I had lots of pressure in my head. I called Erica to take me to urgent care at CentraCare.  There, I was tested for strep and influenza which both came back negative.  They decided to do more blood work.  I was in a hurry because on top of my own chores, I was covering my uncle’s work, as he was recovering from surgery.  Erica went in the hallway and had a weird look on face. It was about 15 minutes later when Erica and two nurses came in.  They explained to me that my platelets at 10 – very low.  We were then sent to the hospital and would be told four days later that I had Leukemia.   There were many hurdles along the way.  At the first bone marrow biopsy, laying on my stomach, they tried to do it, but had a dull bit.  They then put a new bit on and went too far.  Eventually found out they never hooked me up to the IV – no numbing, felt 100% of it.  After all that, he found out the following morning that they took a bad sample and had to do it all over again. 
 
I started chemo February 25, 2016 and at the time 90% of my blood was leukemia.  I ended up celebrating my 33rd birthday in the hospital. Everything had been timed out perfectly so that I could just enjoy cake and ice cream, but another setback came and I needed blood, so I was actually receiving chemo while celebrating that birthday.   
 
The doctors told me that I needed a bone marrow transplant, no way around it. They tested all of my siblings.  I did a consult with the doctor that would be doing it, only to find out that I didn’t need a transplant due to chromosomes changing.  My body fought off everything it needed to without it.
 
I eventually found out that I had spinal stenosis, and had to get a reservoir put in my head. In situations like these they have to take fluid out as they put chemo in and they had to tap five times. They were doing spinal taps to get the chemo to the brain because cancer likes to hide there. 
 
After they put the reservoir in, they put me in the ICU, because my whole head ”blew up”. I found out the next morning that they put it in the wrong spot.  They did surgery again and placed the reservoir in the correct spot and I woke up in no pain. The oncology doctor came up to the ICU and took me back to oncology and started chemo the same day.
 
On Mother’s Day, I had a bloody nose that wouldn’t stop and I was coughing up blood clots.  I wanted to let Erica sleep in because it was Mother’s Day, so I wanted until she woke up at 8:00, and she took me to the ER at noon.  I walked into the ER and they tested my levels and my hemoglobin was down to a four (According to the doctor, you shouldn’t be able to function under seven). I ended up getting four pints of blood.  I came home two days later and finished putting crops in.  The doctor let me prolong round five of chemo so I could complete planting. 
 
The original plan was that Neil was supposed to go through six rounds of chemo and then do the bone marrow transplant.  But again, U of M said there was only a 50% chance of bone marrow transplant working and no siblings matched. That was why they decided he was young and doing well with treatment and no longer needed transplant.
 
Rounds six and seven of chemo came with no issues!!
 
After round 8, I walked out of the hospital – all nurses working bubbled me with love as I finished and was leaving!
 
Two weeks later, I got sick again, and was back in the hospital for 24 days.
 
It was at the end of September 2016 that they did PET scan and everything came back good- all clear!  I then started the two year maintenance plan.
 
In September of 2018 I hit the two year maintenance mark.  Neuropathy that I got from chemo still bothers me. I experience no feeling in my feet, feels like they’re sleeping all of the time. I also experience this in my arms and hands as well. It can make it hard to sleep, because it hurts so bad. 
 
In January of 2019 had to get Omaya reservoir out.  Met with the doctor for pre-op. He told me that I should live my legacy out now instead of waiting until I’m 65.  Since I already had cancer, my chances of getting a different kind of cancer and recurrence rate is higher. 
I got the port out and am currently on no medications!

We all have inner superpowers. What would you say are some of yours?
According to Erica:  Neil is a very easy going guy who gets along with everyone
Neil recognizes that he can make people laugh, lots of jokes. He told me that when he was in the hospital it was during Olympics, he liked watching beach volleyball and tried to get his nurses to dress like the girls playing volleyball.
 
What brings you joy and fulfillment?
My kids, my wife. When I was in the hospital, the whole year, 2016, not once did I think I was going to die.  All I could think about was getting home to the kids and the wife and getting back in the tractor.  It never occurred to me until I was done that there was a chance that I wouldn’t come home. Someone was up there almost every night.

What does it mean to be a cancer survivor?
I’m still here and able to see my kids grow up. Father Mark, up at the hospital, we got really close up there.  He would come visit me when he was working and we grew a close bond.  He had cancer twice - Lymphoma.  He changed his whole life around, diet/exercise and It just came back for a third time.  
 
Who was an influential person to your cancer battle?
Again, Father Mark.  He would come in there and we would talk about what we both went through.  He could relate (also had a farming background), so he would understand why I would push the boundaries on the farm to get the farming done against the doctor’s orders.
 
What were some key things that helped you in the midst of your battle? 
The love and support of family and friends.

Knowing what you know about cancer, what would you tell other survivors?
Everyone says stay positive, which is a key thing.  I didn’t think twice.  I look back at it and think it was a dream.  I stayed in my normal routine.  I’d get in a tractor, drive around and look at crops.  I kept doing things to keep my mind off of it.
​
Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
I was honored when Erica said you’d reached out. I remember when I went to see Kyle in the hospital.  Seeing Kayla and how strong she was, with her husband like that.  She’s a very inspiring woman.

INDY nation, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Debbie Bemboom. Debbie’s story highlights the importance of preventive exams like mammograms and the importance of being aware of your body. Debbie is a fitness enthusiast and a dental hygienist of 27 years. She has also been a trainer for 20 years and has been leading classes at the YMCA for nine years!  

Deb grew up in Sauk Rapids, and still lives there with her husband Greg, who she has been married to for 26 years.  She and Greg have two children, Anthony 29 who is married to Amy, and is a catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays – she shared with me that the day she was diagnosed with her cancer, Anthony had been drafted to play for the Angel’s and said it was hard to break the news to him on what should have been such a happy day. They also have a daughter, Bailey, 23, who is a nurse at the hospital. Here is her story…
 
Can you tell us a little about your story? 
In June of 2012, at 4:00 in the morning, I was stretching and rubbing my abs since they were sore from working out the day before.  It was then, when my hand ran into a marble like bump under my right breast.  I immediately sat up as it was not there the day before even, I would have noticed.  Right away that morning I went in to my doctor and had a mammogram.  I had just had a mammogram in October. I have been getting them yearly since my late 30’s, due to my mom having breast cancer.  This mammogram turned into an ultrasound, which was followed by a biopsy on the following Monday. On Wednesday, I would meet with the surgeon to discuss the results.   
 
I was diagnosed with Stage 2A, Type 3 Triple-negative invasive Ductal Carcinoma (breast cancer).  The good news was that it was not in my lymph nodes. The bad news was it was an aggressive form and had to treat it aggressively with chemotherapy.  We all know how fun that is, and I was hoping to avoid it.  
 
I decided on a double mastectomy with implant reconstruction, mainly because it was the fastest recovery option.  My main focus was to get through this process as fast as possible and with as little disruption to our lives as possible. I wanted to stay in my normal routines as much as I could, so I continued to work. I’m a Dental Hygienist and also teach boot camps (I do personal training out of my home and teach group fitness at the YMCA).  I would work in the morning and do chemotherapy Monday afternoons. By Thursday afternoons, it would start hitting me. I then had Fridays off and could recover over the weekend.  This routine worked great for me and kept my mind off of feeling crappy.  I am also a runner and continued to try to run with my group.  Mostly, it was a walk run, but I needed the socialization and comradery.   
 
I was able to complete my treatment in six months! My final surgery was in November, so I was so very thankful for that! One little hiccup was going into a Neutropenic fever after my first chemo- very scary! But after that, they gave me the Neulasta shot (a shot used to decrease the incidence of infection, by treatingneutropenia)and that helped!
 
We all have inner superpowers. What would you say are some of yours?
**Chelsea (Warrior Correspondent) here: I have found that this is a very hard question for some our warriors to answer.  I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Debbie face to face, but I would say that this girl’s superpower is strength! So many of us would use this diagnosis as an opportunity to slack.  Perhaps even to indulge in a little pity.  Not Debbie, reading her story tells me that she put on her bravest face and tackled the situation head on.  To continue to work and train and persevere through a “normal” schedule takes a large amount of determination and heart.  
​
What brings you joy and fulfillment?
Things that bring me joy are definitely fitness, running and helping others to overcome those walls they have built up so they are able to accomplish their goals.  I love to push myself just a little more to see what I can get my body to do!  I also love to travel and experience new things!
 
What does it mean to be a cancer survivor?
It is really still crazy to me that I am a cancer survivor. It means that I fought a dangerous disease, with many people supporting me, and incredible doctors, one day at a time, one appointment at a time, and I got through it. 
 

​Who was an influential person to your cancer battle?
Honestly, one person that comes to mind is Dave Carlson.  He was a good friend of mine. At the time of my diagnosis, Dave was fighting a losing battle to brain cancer.  He was giving me advice on doctors, support opportunities, etc. His outlook, even so dim, was amazing.  All I could think was, my cancer is treatable, I will beat mine, but he won’t. It made me feel almost guilty for having a treatable cancer.  So yes, it was not easy going through my cancer, but I beat it and am still here.  The day after my first chemo treatment, I went to Dave’s funeral.  
 
What were some key things that helped you in the midst of your battle? 
Staying active- honestly it does help you get the chemo out of your system faster and recover quicker.  Mentally, I needed to keep moving as much as I could.  
 
Telling my story- people were nervous to ask me about my cancer. I’m an open book. I felt talking about it was therapeutic and made it less scary to others.  I hoped it might help others who would be diagnosed to know what it was like, and maybe not be so scared. 
 
Staying in my routine- I kept working and teaching my classes. I needed to try to keep feeling like ME and not a cancer patient.
 
Leaning on family and friends: they were scared too and didn’t know how to help.By letting them help me, it helped them too.
            
Knowing what you know about cancer, what would you tell other survivors?
ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE DR APPOINTMENT AT A TIME, ONE CHEMO TREATMENT AT A TIME!   I can compare running a marathon to my mindset for my journey. If I look at 26.2 miles at one time, it’s way too overwhelming. I break it down into segments, focusing on the first five miles, then the next five. After I reach the 20 mile mark, it’s usually one mile at a time, but pretty soon you area at that finish line! There are times when you feel angry, sick, sad, or defeated, but you keep putting one foot in front of the other and pretty soon you make it to that amazing finish line!! You look back and are amazed you did it.  That’s exactly how my cancer journey was. You WILL make it through, lean on your friends and family, its okay to feel angry, sad, scared, etc. but know you WILL come out stronger and with skills to accomplish what life throws at you next!!

​​Candy Markfort has lived in central Minnesota her entire life.  She married Jim Markfort in 1974. She and Jim have two daughters, two sons-in-law, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She recently left her job of 19 years as a Pharmacist Technician, to enjoy what looks to be an early retirement. Her battle with Ovarian Cancer started when she was only 30 years old. Fortunately, 32 years later, she remains cancer free. 


Can you tell us a little about your story? 
In the late fall of 1985, I thought I had an ovarian cyst and found out that I was actually pregnant. After that, they thought the baby was bigger than normal, as the size of the baby didn’t match up with the dates. Due to the baby’s size they decided to do an ultrasound and found that there was at least one cyst present.  When they checked on it again, it had grown significantly in size, which prompted them to take it out, even though I was pregnant. 
When they went in to remove the cyst, they found that I actually had Ovarian Cancer.  I actually had tumors on both ovaries.  One of my ovaries was the size of a football and the other the size of a grapefruit. 
After they removed it, I got an infection in my ureter, so they had to go in and do another surgery, while I was still pregnant.  However, I had a major sense of peace that my baby was going to be okay and be born healthy after they removed the cancer. 
It was an aggressive grade 3 (out of 4 – 4 being the worst).
If it had been necessary, no chemo was going to take place during my pregnancy, as I was not going to harm my baby to save myself. 
On July 27th, I had a healthy baby girl. 
In October of 1986, I had a total hysterectomy. Luckily, the cancer was fully contained and no further treatment was necessary. 

We all have inner superpowers. What would you say are some of yours?
I was given the ability to remain calm.  I collect the facts, take in all of the information and react from there.  I believe that we wait to worry until there is something to worry about.  I also give the best hugs!

What brings you joy and fulfillment?
Spending time with our kids, our boys and our grandkids.

What does it mean to be a cancer survivor?
For me, I feel that I’m not worthy of a cancer survivor story because I didn’t have to have any chemo or radiation.  I had surgery a few times, but it doesn’t seem the same as someone who had to go through all the treatment. 

Who was an influential person to your cancer battle?
 I couldn’t have done any of it without my husband. He took such good care of me. 

What were some key things that helped you in the midst of your battle? 
My mindset and my faith in God. I am a “give me the facts and I’ll worry about it then” kind of person. My faith told me that everything was going to be okay and that really helped me through.

Knowing what you know about cancer, what would you tell other survivors? 
Let yourself be part of a support network and don’t feel like you need to do it yourself.  Do not let anyone else tell you that your cancer is NOT a big deal.  Cancer is a big deal for every person, no matter what kind or what the prognosis is. I ask you, if you’re reading this and haven’t had cancer, never minimize someone’s cancer. 
One last thing I want to share with you is this.  When I get to heaven, the first thing I’m going to ask Jesus is if he gave me that baby girl because he knew after the cancer I wouldn’t be able to have more children or if he gave me that baby girl so that they would find the cancer and my older daughter wouldn’t be without her mom.
Jim Markfortwas also born and raised in central Minnesota.  He works full-time at LPI in Becker and also continues to farm on the family farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. His journey with Prostate Cancer started in the spring of 2018 and he has been officially cancer free since January of 2019. 

Can you tell us a little about your story? 
Barb Mergen made me come in for a physical.  I had a history of high blood pressure and she wouldn’t renew my prescription without a full physical as it had been a bit since I was last night.  During the physical, Barb noticed that my PSA numbers had climbed and thought it best to send me to a urologist. 
I went to the urologist a month later and my PSA numbers has climbed.  The PSA itself wasn’t high overall, but was escalating very quickly. 
I went in for an MRI, which gave the urologist a better picture of where to biopsy.  The MRI test results showed a suspicious area that indicated possible malignancy.  The morning, they called with the MRI results I was sitting on the side of the road for five hours, broken down in my work truck.  
The biopsy that followed revealed that prostate cancer was present.  The Gleason scale indicated that it was an aggressive cancer.  It was rated as a high 7/low 8. The urologist indicated that though it was aggressive we caught it early and the outcome looked bright.
The options presented were radiation, the nuclear seeds that they can plant in you or removal.
I opted for removal on November 9, 2018. The surgery went well.  They sent it out after surgery and it came back as a high 8, which showed how aggressive it was and reaffirmed our decision for removal.
On January 9, 2019 I went back in for a follow up PSA test and it came back at a 0. Cancer free! This means that the surgery was successful and no follow-up treatment was needed. 
I give all credit to the diligence of Barb Mergen. If she hadn’t insisted on me coming in for a full physical, this aggressive cancer would not have been caught and the outcome could have been different. 
We all have inner superpowers. What would you say are some of yours?
I learned from a young age, the value of hard work. I stand up for what I believe in and try my best to guide my children and grandchildren to be the best versions of themselves, even if they don’t always want to hear it.

What brings you joy and fulfillment?
My wife, kids, their partners and my grandkids. Being outside.  Looking at the Lord’s creation every morning when the sun comes up. There is nothing better than a beautiful sunrise and listening to the world come alive in the morning. 
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What does it mean to be a cancer survivor?
Being a cancer survivor means that you learn to appreciate the day and do not take tomorrow for granted. You always assume you’re going to have tomorrow.  After going through a cancer battle, you learn to appreciate today and the time you have here.

Who was an influential person to your cancer battle?
One person who really helped me throughout my battle was John Gibbs.  He reached out to me as soon as he heard about it and talked to me about it for a long time about it.  He himself has had fought a prostate cancer battle, so he understood what I was going through.

What were some key things that helped you in the midst of your battle? 
: My wife was very supportive. My belief in God helped me a lot in my battle.  My church family.  My family and friends.

Knowing what you know about cancer, what would you tell other survivors? 
Face it head on. Put your trust in the Lord. Do not try and do it alone, do not try and keep it a secret. Let your family and friends be your care group.  If you have a church care group, rely on them as well.  Sometimes it can feel overwhelming having so much support, but it is much better than going at it alone. 
I do want to share one short story with you.  Two days before my cancer surgery, myself and my lifelong friend were out preparing our cows for winter.  As he went to leave that day, he turned around and came back to me and hugged me. When he pulled out of the embrace, he looked at me said “You’re going to be okay.  You aren’t done yet.”.