Take five to stay alive.
Five minutes for a breast self-exam. Five minutes for a mammogram. Five minutes to call a doctor.
The "Take 5 to stay live" theme for this year's Angel Ride to Save the Ta Tas fits well, said co-organizer Lynda Lowery, because Saturday's ride is the fifth annual fun run.
Article Photos
-Messenger photo by Sandy Mickelson
Life is pink for Lynda Lowery, especially when she works on the annual fundraiser, Angel Ride to Save the Ta Tas. All money raised in this fun run is donated to Trinity Regional Medical Center’s cancer department to be used for by cancer patients for uninsured services such as wigs, scarves and travel money to treatments. The pink hobby horse in the Angel Ride picture was made by Gary Wesley for a raffle donation.
What started as a motorcycle ride has become a fun run for cars and pickups, too - whatever someone wants to use.
All money raised is donated to the cancer center at Trinity Regional Medical Center for use by cancer patients on non-insured items, such as wigs, scarves, even gas cards for transportation. The center treats patients within a 75-mile radius of Fort Dodge.
Last year's Angel Ride raised $30,000 for the cancer center. In 2009, the ride raised $13,000; in 2008, $5,575; and in 2007, $3,750. That's more than $50,000 in the last four years.
Fact Box
If you go:
WHO: Angel Ride to Save the Ta Tas.
WHAT: Fifth annual fun run.
WHEN: Saturday, with registration from 9 to 11 a.m. at Amigo's. All riders must be back at the Community Tap by 5 p.m. A preregistration party will be Friday night at Amigo's, with the band Hell or High Water playing.
WHERE: The fun run will go to Marv's Market Street Grill and Bar in Gowrie; Kris' Korner, Boxholm; Toby K's Hideaway, Boone; Rungos, Stratford; Riverside Tap, Lehigh; Community Tap, Fort Dodge.
COST: $15 per person. A 50/50 payout at each stop. Meal at Community for a freewill donation.
SILENT AUCTION, live auction with Keith Dencklau to offer painted guitar from Bacon Body and an oak cabinet from Fort Dodge Senior High wood shop.
A registration pre-party for this year's fun run will be Friday at Amigo's, with the Hell or High Water Band performing. On Saturday, the day will start with a $5 breakfast at Amigo's, and all of the $5 cost goes into Angel Ride coffers.
Lowery, of Fort Dodge, is joined by Marilyn Meier, Fort Dodge, and Dawn Wesley, Moorland, in planning the event - with 13 others helping the cause.
Five years ago, Lowery's sister, Shirley Hanna, a motorcycle enthusiast, started the first ride. She recently married and left the state, turning over the fun run details to the three women. To Meier because she's a survivor. To Lowery because she has a motorcycle background and has been there since the beginning.
"And to me because I'm crazy enough," Wesley said.
"She's actually the organized one," Lowery said. "She keeps us all in line."
"The committee has grown considerably," Meier said. "The first year it was just Shirley and me."
Committee members this year are Cathy Moore, Dawn Powell, Tammy O'Brien, Teresa Trueblood, Jeanna Black, Sharon Rosalez, Deb Schuh, Karen Little, Laura Freisth, Lavonne Neimand, Lana Wendland, Sally Hart and Shirley Hottman. Help comes from others, too - there's no stopping the people who want to help, Lowery said.
Pink, gray and black T-shirts and tank tops carry various slogans, though all pertain to breast cancer awareness. Lowery is keeping a map of the country, with states where these shirts have gone colored with pink.
"My goal is to have a pink shirt, an angel ride shirt, in every state," she said.
"It's kind of fun to see who all has family and friends they want the shirts to go to," Meier said.
The group also has bracelets, rings that say "hope," bandannas and can koozies for sale for the cause. Meier, Lowery and Wesley spent one night as waitresses at the Beach House restaurant in Humboldt, with all their tips - $264 - going to the Angel Ride.
Sally Hart at the Community held a rummage sale for the cause, Meier said, "and there was a lot of community support. It was just amazing."
Contact Sandy Mickelson at (515) 573-2141 or smickelson@messengernews.net