Over Two Decades of Service

At a special meeting of the Marshall County Cancer Board recently, Cleo Symens and Carol Jones were each presented with a beautiful quilt. The quilts were made of Marshall County Relay for Life t-shirts and were given to the women on a momentous occasion. They officially resigned as co-chairs of the County Cancer Board after over two decades of leading the organization.

As they step back from their position, Symens and Jones reflect on their years on the board. As they began their stints in the 80s, both women found their lives personally touched by cancer. Symens explained that her mother-in-law had cancer and later passed away from the disease. Jones added that her oldest daughter Tracy had Hodgkin’s when in college, which prompted Jones to join the board here. To say cancer has been personal for the women is an understatement.

Most notably during their years of service, Jones and Symens were the initiates of the now renowned Marshall County Relay for Life. Jones said her daughter who was a DJ in Rochester at the time was in charge of the Relay for Life in that area and suggested that they try the fundraising event here in Britton. Jones admits that she initially doubted that the idea would work in a smaller community. “I thought that we just didn’t have the number of people here to make it work,” she said.

After participating in the Rochester relay herself though, Jones, with the help of Symens and the rest of the cancer board, began to work to make the event a reality. In 2000, in their first year, they raised over $35,000. In the next several years, the event would only grow, to the point where they were raising over $80,000 some years by the 2010s. The Marshall County Relay was regularly recognized for leading the nation in fundraising in their size cate- position. In appreciation, the women were each presented with a quilt made of Relay for Life tshirts sewn by Deena Heitmann. gory. After 23 years, the event has brought in over $1.5 million, an accomplishment Jones and Symens are humbled by. “It’s just overwhelming the amount of community support we’ve had over the last years,” said Symens. “The people in this area are so great.” When Jones looks back, she remembers fun events to raise money. She enjoyed activities like the tour of homes and the tea party fundraiser as well as meat and pie auctions. “It’s wonderful that people in this area are not afraid to work,” she added.

Both Symens and Jones lauded the cancer boards that they have worked with over the years. “I think we stuck with it for so long because of the cooperation we had,” noted Symens. “Everyone kept us going with new people coming on the board and spurring us on.”

“I’ve made lifelong friends in that group,” emphasized Jones. “Those people have been really fun to work with.”

For their part, the other people who have served on the board with the two women can’t say enough about all they’ve accomplished. Longtime Cancer Board member Flo Hart called the ladies “our fearless leaders.” She added that she personally was skeptical about the Relay for Life working initially. “Without Cleo and Carol, the relay would never have gotten off the ground. They are just hard workers.” She added that the co-chairs were always open to new ideas and knew how to get the community involved.

Judi Schultz who has served around twenty years on the board with the women said she appreciated their leadership skills over the years. “They’re very organized and willing to put in the extra time needed to get things done,” stressed Schultz. “Between the two of them, they’re a welloiled machine.”

“Carol and Cleo are both dedicated servants,” added Jan Foster, who has also been on the board for over ten years. “They are giving people who have been devoted in their efforts to make more birthdays for people who have cancer.”

The two outgoing cochairs may be humble about all they’ve accomplished, but they are proud of the board’s efforts to raise so much money for cancer research. “Research and progress in cancer treatment have come a long way since we started,” said Symens. “We’re so happy that the community has been willing to support those efforts.”

Despite the Relay for Life being successful again this year (it raised around $60,000), the two leaders had both decided it’s time to step back. Jones said, “It’s time to pass the torch. We’re hoping for new creative people to take over.” Symens jokes about her age, saying, “We need new blood and new ideas. We know there are some great people out there who will step up.”

When asked what their futures hold when it comes to cancer board activities, both women agreed they’ll still be around. “I’ll be participating as long as I can!” vowed Symens. Jones agreed, “We’ll be there, but just hope to sit back a little more quietly.”