Geneva Cancer Run sees nearly 200 participants Saturday

By Ben Revermann

Staff writer

Beautiful weather accompanied nearly 100 riders at the fourteenth annual Geneva Cancer Run on Saturday, June 14. The emcee for the day was DeeAnn Randall and brother Jake Jensen, who started this annual ride in honor of his best friend Matt Felt, who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 26 in 2007. Jake Jensen said, “We raised 15k for the run on the fourteenth.”

Just prior to the 11 a.m. start time in front of the Geneva Bar and Grill, Dan and Maggie Willert, husband and wife, were among the crowd of people and motorcycles preparing to leave. The Willerts said they were taking part, “To support the cause; we have had family and friends affected by cancer and we fully support this. We’re locals and we’ve noticed that every year this gets bigger and bigger.” As the ride was about to begin, DeeAnn from the back of the bar announced over a sound system, “We’re going to Minnesota Lake, to Freeborn, to Hartland to their University Bar, then to the Pour House in Clarks Grove. Please drive safely, everyone. We are here to help people with cancer, and we’d much rather help them than scrape one of you out of the ditch.”

The nonprofit group began with the Matt Felt Memorial Ride in 2010 and organized a year later in 2011. DeeAnn Randall serves as president with her sons Jake as the vice president and Andy as one of the nine board members. Geneva Cancer Run is a nonprofit organization which has given about $300,000 to area residents battling cancer and struggling to pay for the many costs associated with treatment.

Registration began at 9 a.m., the ride departed at 11 a.m. Before departure, Ariel Anhalt and Faith Phillips sang the National Anthem. Randall revealed past rides have included as many as 170 motorcycles. Cars are also welcome. A “breakdown trailer” accompanied the ride; camping was provided for those wishing not to travel after the run.