The Devils Lake Relay For Life has become a real “family affair” for Nettie Felch of Devils Lake and her brother, Duane Volk, of Green Bay, Wis.
Nettie and Duane were two of Aloise and Elizabeth Volk’s children and basically grew up in Devils Lake.
When their parents moved to Green Bay, Duane went along.
Duane lost his wife, Bev, to cancer last year, and plans to walk with his sister in this year’s relay for the second year in a row.
Nettie, who is a 10-year member of the “Minnie H Crew” team, sent a letter to Duane asking him to walk in the Relay for Life in honor of his wife.
He was happy to oblige.
This year he plans to ride his Harley-Davidson from Green Bay to Devils Lake and gather up $1 pledges en-route. It is about a 1,400 mile ride.
That money will go to the Relay For Life fund.
Duane’s wife, Bev, was diagnosed with cancer on March 30, 2009. It was a fast-moving, aggressive cancer which put her in the hospital 10 days and under Hospice Care for 18 days before she succumbed. She was diagnosed the day after she celebrated her 40th anniversary with Duane.
“She really went fast,” Nettie recalls. “I’m not sure what kind of cancer it was, but it was fast.”
Nettie says the all-night affair at Roosevelt Park in Devils Lake can be a challenging task.
Last year it was cold, she said. She’s been out in windy conditions and misty conditions.
But there’s so many warm hearts in the park, almost any type of weather conditions are tolerable.
“It gives you such a good feeling,” adds Nettie. “When you’re out there walking and they’re reading all the names of victims of cancer - and survivors, it’s so touching.”
“More and more people are becoming involved in the survivor’s lap too, so that shows we’re making progress.”
Nettie said it’s also very heartwarming to see the luminaries each year and all the work that is involved in staging such a popular, touching and successful event.
