Walk surpasses goal to raise $47,000 for American Cancer Society

by Kara Hildreth

Thisweek Newspapers

Farmington Fire Chief Tim Pietsch commemorated former fire chief Ken Kuchera – who lost his battle with cancer in June – at the opening ceremonies for the Relay for Life walk in Farmington on Friday, July 30.

This year the American Cancer Society’s theme was “A world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays.”

Caregivers shared personal, heartfelt stories about survival and loss, and many cancer survivors proudly walked the “Survivors’ Lap” around the track. The track was framed with hundreds of luminary bags, each decorated with handwritten words of remembrance and photos of family and friends who died from cancer.

Pietsch shared his words of remembrance about Kuchera, who passed away June 6 after battling colon cancer for more than five years.

Being formally introduced to Kuchera back in 1977 when his parents moved next door to him, Pietsch said he did not know what kind of impact Kuchera would have on his life back then.

“When he had cancer, he battled it and he remained so positive throughout the whole ordeal and never said anything negative,” Pietsch said.

When Pietsch visited Kuchera in hospice at the end of his life, Kuchera told  him, “I can either remain positive or I can be mad at the world.”

“That was a testament to me for how he saw things,” Pietsch said.

Besides working together in the fire service for years, Pietsch said his friendship blossomed with Ken when they went ice fishing on Lake Mille Lacs and snowmobiling up north in the winter.

“That is really when I got to know him and what he was like, and I realized what a good person he was and how he could talk to anybody,” Pietsch said.

Kuchera had the ability to lighten the tension or mood in the room with a joke or a few words, he said.

The man knew everybody and remembered everyone’s name he met,” he said, recalling a Canada fishing trip where Kuchera knew someone at a remote resort.

“My friendship with Ken blossomed into so much more than the fire service – he was almost like a second father because he was very firm, yet very forgiving, and I witnessed that time and time again,” he said.

Pietsch read the firefighters’ prayer to say this was how Kuchera lived his life and he continued to have a passion for the fire service even after he retired.

Relay for Life

This year’s Farmington Relay for Life cancer walk was moved to a new location at the track and field of Robert Boeckman Middle School. Walkers raised funds at an overnight walk and campout from early evening Friday, July 30, to the next morning.

“The event went really well,” said Melissa Thone, community relations representative with the American Cancer Society. “Everyone was in great spirits and the weather held out.”

So far, the fundraising totals from the Farmington Relay for Life come in at $47,000, but contributions will be collected until Aug. 31.

Last year the Farmington Ramble and Amble Walk raised $32,000 and this year the goal was to reach $41,000.

“Having the event overnight helped because there was more time, and everybody was really excited about the significance and meaning of it being overnight,” Thone said.

The Relay for Life overnight campout symbolizes how a cancer patient starts out in the light when they’re healthy and then, after they receive the cancer diagnosis and endure radiation or chemotherapy, they go through what feels like a darkness, Thone said.

“Waking up the next day shows the symbolism of coming out in the light again at the end of the cancer journey” after remission,” said Thone.

Kara Hildreth is at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .