Incredigals, other teams fight cancer one lap at a time

About a dozen mild-mannered employees of Whitefish Credit Union debut as superheroes Friday and Saturday as they prepare for battle with their arch-nemesis, cancer, during the Whitefish Relay For Life.

“Our motto is cancer is a crime and we’re fighting crime one lap at a time,” said Sue Schenck, business development director at the credit union.

Dubbing themselves the Incredigals, these superwomen join 20 other teams for relay running from 6 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday at the Whitefish High School track. The event, one of four in the Flathead Valley in June and July, benefits the American Cancer Society while raising awareness about the life-altering disease.

Other area Relay for Life events include:

n Kalispell, June 24 and 25,  Legends Field.

n Columbia Falls, July 8 and 9, Columbia Falls High School track.

n Bigfork, July 15 and 16, Bigfork High School.

Crusaders against cancer at these Flathead Valley events join more than 3.5 million people  who “Relay for Life” in communities throughout the country. Along with raising money, these benefits support those battling cancer and survivors of cancer while memorializing loved ones lost to the disease.

Relays usually last throughout the night with each team keeping at least one member on the track at all times. Organizers say cancer never sleeps — so neither do their teams. When not on the track, participants enjoy camping and lend their support to those walking.

The Incredigals, along with Whitefish Credit Union’s official mascot Whitey McFish, plan to make their debut team lap in full Incredigal regalia around 6 p.m. Friday.

“We’ll wear black capes, gold masks and gold cuffs,” Schenck said with a laugh. “We’ll have about a dozen gals wandering around loose.”

This year marks the first time the credit union has had a team although employees have participated individually.

Incredigal Dianna Giddeon, who works in the accounting department, celebrates her eighth Relay for Life at the Whitefish event. She brings firsthand knowledge of the disease.

In 2000, Giddeon was diagnosed with breast cancer. After six months of chemotherapy and five years of oral medication, she overcame the cancer.

She said she never forgets what she and cancer patients have been through.

“So far I am free of cancer 11 years later and I am so thankful for every day of my life,” Giddeon said. ”I want to make others fighting or surviving cancer know that they are not in this alone.”

Giddeon brings this passion to supporting and raising money for cancer awareness and research. According to Schenck, she has raised almost $1,000 on her own this year.

Each event strengthens her commitment.

“The love and support at these events is so overwhelming to a cancer survivor such as myself,” Giddeon said.

Charla Johnson, Whitefish Credit Union accounting clerk, has experienced both sides of the fight against cancer.

“I have family members who have been lucky enough to survive cancer, but I have also, sadly, lost friends to this horrible disease,”  Johnson said.

She said Whitefish Credit Union provided great support to build a Relay for Life team.  The largest credit union in Montana with more than $1 billion in assets, Whitefish Credit Union manages six branches throughout the state serving more than 50,000 members of the financial cooperative.

Johnson eagerly awaits her premier as an Incredigal at her first relay this Friday and Saturday.

 “I have always wanted to participate in the Relay For Life, but haven’t had the chance until this year.”

Schenck said this will also mark her first year of participation. She said that she has been impressed by the number of people who come back to the event year after year.

“When people get involved, they get involved forever,” she said. “That speaks highly of the event.”

She said her mother died of cancer about 25 years ago. It was a devastating loss.

“I couldn’t say the word cancer for years without breaking down,” she said.

Whitefish Credit Union’s fight against cancer doesn’t stop in Whitefish. Teams from the Columbia Falls and Kalispell service areas will pick up the battle at Relay for Life events in those communities.

To learn more about this event, visit the Relay For Life website at relayforlife.org.