Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

It is such a bittersweet story that the "Make a Difference for ALS" (Lou Gehrig's Disease) was such a great success this year. Yes, we had the most participants ever with 223 and raised the most funds ever at this event but when you look back on why, it makes you want to cry. This year we had many first time participants and spectators, many were there for a great reason, to support two new individuals with this horrific disease, Larry Rislov from Badger and Clifford Nordine from Roosevelt.

Team Rislov and Team Nordine made statements, that they were there to support Larry and Clifford just as Vany's Team has done the past several years and was there again to support Evangeline "Vany Larson" from Roseau in their bright green shirts. These three individuals are the ones we know of in our local area, battling this disease.

The walk/run was encased by rain showers that day, with a rainbow appearing before we started the event. Were the drops tears from heaven, knowing there were many sad hearts that day, memories of those that have passed and the battles to come with the ones who have ALS? Yet the rainbow was there to give us hope that good will come from the efforts of those helping the cause.

The event raised over $35,000 and the top individual fundraisers for the event were: Julie Bergman - $1,663.70; Dylan Johnson - $1,015; Joanne Anderson - $678; Mathew Nordine, $571; Blaine Schmitz - $555; Kay Arneson - $500; Audrey Hayden - $500; Sharon Baron $415; Pat Larson - $400 and Bryan Larson $376. The organizing committee would like to thank these individuals, everyone that raised funds and to all the participants that walked and/or ran. Also a special thanks to those that just dropped by or mailed a check this year, thank you!!

A special thanks to Allen and Mary Olson, who organized a raffle in honor of Larry Rislov. Allen said a special thank you on Saturday to everyone that helped with the raffle and donated the prizes. Larry Rislov presented the ALS Team with a check on Saturday for $5,000 from the proceeds from their raffle. The Rislov team also raised over $7,800 in other types of fundraising, including the silent auction.

Team Nordine, made an overall statement as well, as a team they had raised over $4,800. They had a tent set up with their theme of "Clifford the Big Red Dog", which Clifford Nordine often referred to himself. You couldn't miss them with their bright red shirts and Clifford the big red dog on them.

Yes. there were many others individuals and teams their honoring and participating in memory of individuals on Saturday that are not mentioned in this article. Though many were represented by a garden of flowers present on Saturday with the names of many of those individuals.

Diane Odegard from East Grand Forks organized the first ever silent auction at this year's event that was held in honor of Larry Rislov. They also had items to purchase at their tables. Thanks Diane for your efforts!

There was a lot of action on the course as well this year. The 5k alone had 168 participants and the top placers were a pair of 16 year olds for females it was Ellie Nelson from Roseau with a time of 20 min.12 sec. and the top male placer was Brett Erickson from Roseau with a time of 18 min. 34 sec. The 10k's top placers were Tracy Moe, a former Roseau girl, now reigning from Parker, Colo., with a time of 44 min. 51 sec. and Beezer Skime from Thief River Falls with a time of 35 min. 10 sec.

Many of the runners/walkers heard their name announced as they were crossing the line, thank you Nikki Gustafson and Craig Olson for announcing during the event.

Another big thank you for all the volunteers that helped before, during and after the event, without you this event would not take place. Thank you Ashley Vatnsdal, Gary Gustafson, Mary and Dewey Hites, Rich Fredrickson, Rhonda Biermaier, Kristi Huot, Deidre Diesen, Joni Peterson, Joyce Bicker, Jamie Olson, Jen Sanden, Kylee and Mark Miller, Kathy and Austen Miller, Gary Grondahl, Jeff Olson, Doug Johnson, Aaron Nelson, Zach Swanson, Jack Swanson and the City of Roseau personnel. Our apologies to anyone we missed.

Dylan Johnson, who raised funds in memory of his grandmother, Ellen Smith, who passed away from ALS

The committee would like to thank all their sponsors without you this event would not be possible. The main sponsors for the event are as follows: Platinum Sponsors – Citizens State Bank, Border State Bank, Polaris Industries, Page 1 Publications, Roseau Public School; Gold Sponsors – Law Office of Patrick Moren, LifeCare Medical Center, Super One Foods-Roseau, Hugo's Family Market Place, Roseau Electric Cooperative; North Country Websites; Silver Sponsors – Frank's TV, Stoskopf Redi-Mix of Roseau, Titan Machinery, TruStone Wealth Management, A Private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Wild 103 FM.

Also a special thanks to the ALS Walk/Run Committee for putting on this event, Marlys Gustafson, Teri Johnson, Natali Anderson, Russ Sorenson, Becky Hayden, Andrew Rakow, Carol Poell, Marcia Robinson and Arlene Billberg, your efforts are greatly appreciated.