How many people do you know who have been touched by cancer?

Let’s be honest, touched is not the right word. Cancer seems to hit so many families like a sledgehammer that saying touched doesn’t quite do justice.

How about hammered?

I know many families who have been hammered by cancer, including my own. We were fortunate and my dad and my wife’s dad have been cancer-free for some time now. Others I know have not been as fortunate.

The family of a good friend of mine was one of those not as fortunate. Five years ago, my friend and her siblings lost their mother, at the age of 56, to a yearlong battle with Multiple Myeloma. Though I know the loss of their mother still impacts them, and most likely always will, they were inspired by their mother and her cancer journey to hit back at cancer and use their grief to positively impact the lives of others, whether they are cancer patients, the families of cancer patients or the nurses, doctors and other medical staff who treat cancer patients and their families.

To fight cancer, they created the Greater Minnesota Fight for a Cure (GMFFC), an organization whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of those individuals and families affected by cancer.

As I have gotten to know my friend and her family the past several years, I have learned several things. First of all, I do not know if I have ever known four adult siblings as individually unique as these four. At the same time, there are many common threads woven through each sibling that there is no doubt they are family and they enjoy activities that bring families, friends and communities together.

These same characteristics are present in how they have chosen to fight cancer. Each sibling brings unique talents to the table but their preferred way of fighting cancer is through some of the favorite pastimes people enjoy and that bring families and communities together, with events such as the Volleyball Bash for a Cure, the Ronn Negaard Memorial Bean Bag Tournament and GMFFC Extreme Dodgeball Tournament.

The initial, and most prominent, event is Casting for a Cure, a fishing tournament for people of all ages and fishing skills. In four years, these four siblings, along with their spouses, children and other volunteers have been able to donate over $70,000 to various cancer-fighting resources because of Casting for a Cure. With this year’s tournament, to be held on Saturday, August 24th, they hope to bring that total to over $100,000.

Casting for a Cure, though, does more than just raise funds to fight cancer. Casting for a Cure brings hope and healing to families affected by cancer. Casting for a Cure encourages activities that bring families together. Even the Awards Ceremony and Celebration of Hope following the tournament is geared towards enjoying family and friends, with food, music, and outdoor activities for all to enjoy.

I have known the family only after their mother passed so I never knew their mother. All I know of her is through what others have said about her and, more importantly, through getting to know her children. She must have been a great woman because if what Edward Gardner says is true, that “it’s not what you take but what you leave behind that defines greatness,” then her children and their families have defined her well.

I can only imagine as their mother looks down on what she has left behind, she must be very proud.

P.S. If you like to fish, I encourage you to register for the tournament. There is even an online division for those of you who do not live in the St. Cloud area. For those of you who do not fish and live in the area, join us at the Blue Line Sports Bar and Grill in Sartell for the activities following the tournament. It will be well worth your time.

If you do not fish and will not be in the area on August 24th, but would still like to help this family fight cancer, consider making a donation or being a sponsor of the event.

For more information on the fishing tournament and this family’s story, please visit http://www.castingforacure.org.

Hope to see you on the 24th!