Relay for Life features 4 honorary chairs

This year, the Dodge County Relay
for Life has a team of honorary chairs. 
These four women have had 
cancer and know that enemy
first hand. They all survived.
They all wanted to give
back because they consider
themselves the lucky ones.
And now they all spend
countless hours working on
the Relay.
The women are Lisa
Rollins, Pat Shaffer-
Gottschalk, Annette
O’Donnell, and Teresa
Neuzil.
Lisa Rollins
Lisa Rollins is co-chairing
the event this year with
Aleta Abbott who ran the
event for 25 years.
Rollins became involved
with Relay because, “I
wanted to find a way to give
back.
I was lucky. After battling
lymphoma, I survived. A
multitude of my relatives
and friends have not. My
family and I were already
participating in the Relay in
Dodge County, so I thought I
could find a way to be more
involved. Aleta wanting to
step down a little and have
someone join her in the
chairperson duties. It seemed
like a great opportunity –
although it did seem a little
daunting.”
Rollins and her family
have always volunteered in
many community events. She
and her husband, Len have
been involved with Scouting
for more than 20 years in the
Plainview area. One year,
Lisa and Len were selected
as King and Queen of the
Plainview Corn on the Cob
Days. The couple also hosted
an exchange ‘son’ - Vinicius -
from Brazil for a year.
“That was such a
rewarding experience,” said
Lisa.
Her Relay team is the
“Puff Cookies.” The Rollins’
daughter, Ashley Dahl, is
the captain. Lisa explained
that the original name of the
team was the Tough Cookies
but, someone heard Puff
Cookies and that’s how they
were registered.
The whole family helps out
including Ashley’s husband,
Jimmy, and Lisa and Len’s
son Jon.
Pat Shaffer-Gottschalk
She and her husband,
David, started a Relay
team, the “Rainbow Team”
in Virginia 16 years ago
when Pat had finished her
treatments against cancer.
“I said to David that I
wished I could help others
also walking the same
path, sharing the same
journey. We were the
“Rainbow Team” because
we were all ages and colors,
from all walks of life,
all touched by cancer as
survivors, caregivers, family,
friends. We would grow
to be great friends, walked
together in many Relays,
and helped each other
journey through difficult
times. Although I now live in
Minnesota, I celebrate their
friendship, and the collective
hope of all who Relay
together.”
Pat’s family has fought
cancer for many years. “Both
of my parents died of cancer
- each had two separate
kinds of cancer and both
survived the first, but not
the second. I learned grit,
fortitude, hard work and love
from each of them.”
Here in Dodge County,
Pat is on the Relay Planning
Committee, and she is also
the team captain of the
“Book Bunch” Team.
“It’s made up of my
wonderful coworkers at
Kasson Public Library and
friends,” she explained.
She also helps with the
Survivor’s Reception.
Pat and David have two
grown daughters, Renata and
Petra.
“My younger daughter was
only in first grade when I had
cancer and I thank God every
day that I have survived to
see them grow up,” said Pat.
Annette O’Donnell
Annette O’Donnell is
another of the honorary
chairs. She participated
in her first Relay event,
“Twenty-one days before
my brother died of cancer. I
became the captain the next
year, and 11 years later, here
I am.”
O’Donnell herself was
diagnosed with cancer when
she was 38 years old. She
also lost her mom and dad to
cancer. She has many siblings
who have also been diagnosed
with cancer.
During her time as captain
of the Relay team, the ‘Holy
Strollers,’ she started and ran
the mammoth garage sale
that’s held each summer at
Holy Family Catholic Church
in Kasson. The team also sells
‘Cancer Sucks-Help us Lick It’
lollipops all around Kasson.
The ‘Holy Stroller’ team sells
chili on Relay night.
She also helps with the
Survivor’s Reception,
coordinates with local
haulers to take care of the
environmental service needs
during Relay and, of course,
helps set up and take down
Relay equipment before and
after the event each year.
Her husband, Allen;
daughter Dawn and her
husband, Doug; son Allen Jr.,
and his wife, Ann; and son
Ben, and his wife, Deanna,
have all helped Annette
through the years. Annette
and Allen’s six grandchildren
also bring joy to the lively
mix.
Teresa Neuzil
Teresa Neuzil is also an
honorary chair. She has been
involved with the American
Cancer Society since 1995,
“…after my diagnosis with
cancer. I remember hearing
about the Relay for Life
and I wanted to be a part
of it since cancer touched
my life more personally. I
remember I called one of
the teams because I didn’t
know anybody that was
participating in it and got on
their team.”
Neuzil explained that she
has been part of a couple of
different teams over the years
but now she is the captain of
‘Team Hope,’ which is made
up of family and friends.
She explained, “One thing I
love about the Dodge County
Relay is what a sense of
community it gives me. We
have such great support here
and it is fun to see everybody
come out for the Relay
night. Cancer really touches
everyone involved whether
it’s friends or family. It’s good
to give back and to involved
with the American Cancer
Society. I want to be part
of the Cure and that won’t
happen if we don’t fundraise
for this important cause. I
want the next generation
to have less cancer in their
lives.”
Neuzil helps team member
Marty Currie decorate the
stage for the Dodge County
Relay for Life each year. Her
team hosts the stuffed animal
game.
“It’s become a tradition for
us,” she said. ß
Relay for Life in Dodge
County is at the Dodge
 
County Fairgrounds Aug. 3.