Nate’s Steam Team

Relay for Life

Photos 2005 and 2004

 

If you would like to read more about Nathan's cancer diagnosis and treatment, his parents kept an online journal to keep people informed of his treatments.  Although the journal hasn't been updated since 2003, it is still available online (www.caringbridge.org/page/nathanschewe) or I can lend you a printed copy.

 

Relay Photos 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Jim (talking on the phone to Kathy), Ted and Ben waiting out the raindrops before setting up our campsite.

 

Kathy conserving her energy before the walking begins. I think we were the only campsite with a bit of shade.

Beth and Jim entertained us.  Notice they are sitting in the shade, such as it is.

Ted ate (and then wore) his dinner just before the opening ceremony.

Beth, Jim, and Dan.

Jan, Kathy Mike, Becky, Beth, Dan, Carol, and Jim.

We’re ready to walk.

 

Nate’s Grandpa walked the first shift with Doug.

 

 

After the lightning got too close (around 7:00pm) we took refuge in the High School. 

Doug, Crystal, Tom, and Becky are eating their brats.

 

Mike and Dan wishing they could be somewhere less hot and muggy, like Houston.

Jan and Kathy took over the walking in the gym.  Around 8:30 we did get a chance to get back outside on the track.  However within 20 minutes the storm came back and we once again took cover inside the gym.  We finally went outside for good around 10 pm.

Ben enjoyed playing in the gym.

John, Abbie, and Alex Cotter came out to visit. Ted and Alex are missing several teeth!

Abbie and John Cotter

We all added our thumbprints to a “Touched by Cancer” poster.  The American Cancer Society is creating a poster for each WI relay to raise awareness about the thousands of Wisconsin Families that have been touched by cancer.  In October the posters will go on display in the Capitol and they will hold a “mini-relay” on the Capitol Square.  In this picture Tom is adding his thumbprint and signature to the poster.

Again we were back on the track around 10:45pm.

Crystal, Tom, Jim, Neuman, and Doug

Kathy and Dan

The luminaria ceremony (where they read the names of all our loved ones who have battled cancer) was held indoors earlier in the relay.

Around 11:00pm they were able to put the luminaria bags out and light the candles.

Tom, Crystal, and Neuman walked throughout the morning with Tom, and Neuman anchoring the 3-5am shift! 

It was pleasant to hear Neuman’s tags jingle as he pranced around the track.  I’m sure all 3 of them slept well for the rest of the day.

Jim, Ted, and Ben were walking a morning shift.  Notice that Ben is holding quite a collection of raffle tickets.  Despite Uncle Dan buying 24 tickets we did not win the raffle. 

We smelled a lot worse that we look!  And we look pretty bad.

 

Relay Photos 2004

 

 

This picture was taken shortly after the opening ceremony.  It is not a complete picture of our team but most of us are here.

Pictured:  Ed, Doug, Jim, Carol, Jan, Mike, Gloria, Ben, Matthew and Amy

Not pictured:  Beth, Alan, Patty, and Ted.  (Ted refused to be in any group pictures.)

 

Nate’s Grandpa, Mike Schewe, took on our first walking shift. 

For some of his laps he could be seen giving Ben or Ted a ride on the seat of his walker.

 

The Harper Family

Patty works with Jim at Philips.  Her whole family joined us for the Relay.

Doug and Ed

Ben and a luminary in memory of Nate.

 

We sponsored many luminaries in honor or memory of family members and friends of Steam Team supporters. 

I wasn’t able to get a picture of each luminary but here are some of them:

 

 

Doug’s wife, Kate, came out to visit the Steam Team.

 

 

Jan and Jim after a touching Luminary ceremony that included a reading of the names of those who have battled cancer. 

 

 

At 11 pm Ed and Doug came in 2nd place in the 3-legged race! 

Amy and Beth also participated.

 

 

Ben enjoying a midnight snack after walking the 10-12pm shift with Doug.

 

 

Sad Campers!

At midnight, a thunderstorm forced us to evacuate our campsite and take shelter in the high school gym.

Ted had been asleep for two hours but woke up when Jim carried him inside. 

 

Our dedicated walkers (Ed, Patty, Jim, and Beth) continued indoors.

 

 

Ben and Ted got their second wind!  These pictures were taken around 3am.

The boys took turns SPRINTING around the track in the gym weaving between the adult walkers. 

We timed their laps at 48 seconds.

 

Meanwhile….

 

Although all of our pillows and blankets were left in our tents (some of which got quite soggy … sorry Beth!) some of us got a few minutes rest.

 

 

Beth took over the 2-4am shift.

 She was moving very slowly (especially compared to Ben and Ted) but did manage to get some reading done.

At 3:30 the storm had passed.  Ed, Doug, Jim, Ben, Ted, Patty, Matthew, and Amy returned to the tents to sleep.

Beth and Carol headed outside to keep walking.

 

 

Here is our group picture taken at 9am on Saturday.

Jim, Carol, Patty, Alan, Ed, Doug, Ben, Amy, and Beth.

 

 

We had a great boost in energy when Ben’s 2nd grade teacher Debbie Steinhoff arrived to walk some laps.

Debbie’s brother is a cancer survivor and we were very thankful that she came by to carry us through the last hour.

 

 

We were very excited to see Bucky Badger out supporting the walkers.

Ben and Matthew got his autograph!