photo by Brie Cohen

Elaine Larson will be volunteering for the Freeborn County American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon with REACT. REACT coordinates safety spots and intersections along the bike route.

Radio active

Bike-A-Thon helper Elaine Larson survives cancer

By Geri McShane | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Elaine Larson has been involved with the Freeborn County American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon for 34 years, but for the last couple of years, it’s taken on a new importance.

That’s because Larson, of Alden, was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor in her stomach in September 2006.

“It was very slow growing, but they (doctors) had to take a large portion of my stomach,” Larson said.

A year later, the cancer metastasized to her liver.

She had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and a new procedure, SIR-Spheres, which stands for selective internal radiation therapy. Simply stated, radioactive beads are shot at her tumors.

The treatment is working, she said, and she credits the money raised by events like the annual Bike-A-Thon for funding the research that makes her treatment possible.

“This research is going someplace,” she said.

Larson first got involved with the Bike-A-Thon in 1975, after joining the local REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Team) the year before.

“I’d had a CB radio for years,” she said of her interest in joining the group.

REACT coordinates safety spots and intersections along the 100-mile bike route.

The organization has 12 or 13 members, all of whom are very active, especially in the Bike-A-Thon.

“We used to be able to handle the whole route, with two base radios, Larson said. But she said sunspot activity has made it hard to receive radio transmissions and many of those helping with the Bike-A-Thon have gone to cell phones.

She remembers one year while the Bike-A-Thon was going on, a tornado was spotted near Kiester or Walters. All the riders had to be loaded into buses and brought back to Albert Lea.

Another year, the weather was so bad that only about a dozen riders made it through the whole route, she said.

“That’s why you need good communications,” Larson said, adding REACT works closely with ham radio operators in such instances.

REACT also does a safety break for Fourth of July travelers at the Interstate 35 rest stop south of Albert Lea and helps with communications for the Big Island Rendezvous & Festival. Larson, who works as a secretary at Christ Episcopal Church, is the secretary-treasurer of the local organization.

The 37th Annual Freeborn County American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon is scheduled for 6 a.m. Saturday, May 2, starting at the Sibley warming house. Riders can get pledge cards at Wells Fargo Bank, Hansen Tire, Martin’s Cycling & Fitness, Poole’s Bike Shop, all Freeborn County Schools, KATE Radio, and Power 96.

Registration will be April 30 and May 1 at the Skyline Plaza from 4 to 7 p.m. All riders are asked to collect $35 or more in pledges or pay a $35 entry fee. Bank night will be May 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Wells Fargo Bank. Riders unable to turn in pledge money on May 12 may do so when they register.

Anyone interested in getting a team together may contact Kent Erlandson at 373-1095.

The Bike-A-Thon needs more volunteers. Anyone who would like to help with communications can call Larson at 874-3422. To help in other ways with the Bike-A-Thon, call Sheriff Mark Harig at 377-5204. The last meeting for the Bike-A-Thon committee will be at 5 p.m. Monday at the law enforcement center.

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