Running for a cause
They are going the extra mile! Some of our kid experts from the cancer and blood disorders program have joined Team Superstars and will be raising funds for the Cancer Kids Fund while running the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile race on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.
Creating the team
Co-captains Erin Bevers, RN, and Rachel Laquere, dietitian, are no strangers to running for Team Superstars! However, because of the clinic’s culture, they knew colleagues from the cancer and blood disorders clinic would likely also be interested. The first colleague to join their team was Bri Depauw, RN.
“Our staff is incredibly close and supportive of each other and are always in awe of the strength, heart and resilience of our patients and families,” said Bri.
Because teamwork is such an important part of the culture in the cancer and blood disorders program, it was no surprise that the team of three quickly ballooned to 12 by the end of the week.
Meet the full team:
- Erin Bevers, RN.
- Sydney Bramer, RN.
- Raeme Cheatham, clinic assistant.
- Bri Depauw, RN.
- Lori Ellingson, RN.
- Alycia Evenochek, MS, RDN, LD, dietitian.
- Zach Faith, clinic assistant.
- Alexandria Finnessy, RN.
- Taylor Konrardy, medical scribe.
- Rachel Laquere, RDN, LD, dietitian.
- Chelsea Self, MD.
- Cecily Wegmann, DNP APRN CPNP-PC.
Why they run
All employees in the cancer and blood disorders program see first-hand how the Cancer Kids Fund helps patients and their families. While their reasons for running may differ slightly, they are raising funds to help the patients and families they work with.
More about the Cancer Kids Fund
The Cancer Kids Fund helps patients and families in so many ways, including:
- Helping with day-to-day expenses such as meals or parking.
- Assisting with larger expenses like mortgage payments, which is especially helpful as many families have to take time off work to stay in the hospital, attend clinic appointments and care for their children.
- Funds fertility preservation.
- Provides supportive services like psychologists, music therapists, child life specialists and dietitians.
- Allows the clinic to purchase items to keep kids happy and busy in the clinic and hospital like art supplies, toys and games.
- Helps make Camp Breakaway – a week-long summer camp for children with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders and their siblings – possible.
- Funds research to find new and better treatments.
How you can help
If you would like to help the cancer and blood disorders team reach their fundraising goal, you can donate online.
Children’s Minnesota’s cheer zone
The team also would welcome friendly faces at the race! Please consider attending the Twin Cities Marathon weekend to cheer on the cancer and blood disorders program’s team – and all of the other Team Superstars runners.
You can join Children’s Minnesota’s cheer zone, too! Find us in the middle of “Mission Mile” at Oaks Park, 2102 E River Terrace, Minneapolis, MN 55414 (approximately mile 4 of the 10-mile race and mile 20 of the marathon). Look for the Children’s Minnesota banner and sign!
