Riding for a Cure

The word andamp quot cancerandamp quot can strike fear into people of all ages But when it happens to children it can be especially tough to handle That s why the Dakota Cancer ride continues to roll on raising money for research and bringing hope to families She s used to telling her story after being diagnosed with a brain tumor nearly ten years ago Darlene Weigel Mom andamp quot She woke up with some funny speech and found out later in the day she had a brain tumor andamp quot Lauren Weigel andamp quot I m lucky because I could ve died from brain tumor andamp quot 18-year-old Lauren Weigel remembers attending her first ever andamp quot ride for a cureandamp quot when she was only 8 Lauren Weigel andamp quot I was just so impressed with bikes and what they did for us who have brain tumors andamp quot Today the Dakota Kids Cancer Ride has grown and continues to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research Arlan Henke Gold Wing Road Riders andamp quot If you ve ever had a child and had a doctor come up to you and say your child has brain tumor cancer it has to be devastating and we re just trying to raise money for that andamp quot Darlene andamp quot There s just a lot of support and we also want to get word out because we don t know out in the state who else has been affected by this andamp quot According to research brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death in children And Four out of 10 children with a brain tumor will die within five years of diagnosis But people here today are hoping to change those statistics Arlan andamp quot The problem is there are so many rides out so we don t get the numbers we would like but the ones that are here understand what it s for and that s why they re here andamp quot Darlene We love the sound of the engines because it gives us hope that sound brings hope that we know ten years from now what we didn t think would happen would be able to happen andamp quot andamp quot You hear the loud rumble of a harley and think most of these guys are rough and tumble guys but most of them are teddy bears once you get to know them they d do anything for you the people here today andamp quot Reporter How was the ride Good my legs are a little wobbly but it was good andamp quot A true success story Lauren plans to use her experience and help others through future cancer rides and her future profession andamp quot I want to work with kids and adults and help them get better at what they have disabilities in and I feel like I can do that doing occupational therapy andamp quot Her advice for kids going through brain cancer andamp quot Keep trucking optimistic attitute think of life as a blessing andamp quot Lauren is just starting her freshman year out at U-Mary where she will major in occupational therapy Again all money from the ride goes toward Pediatric brain tumor research If you d like to make a donation you still can at the address listed on your screen