On Nov. 2nd, students will be able to participate in the 3rd annual Team Ian run/walk. This year, Team Ian is moving forward technologically with a virtual run, where people who wish to participate, but cannot physically be involved will still be able to help fight rare pediatric cancer. In order to take place in the virtual run, the participant only has to print off the bib from the Team Ian website (teamian.weebly.com) and go out and do an activity of their choice. Then they can mail in the bib with the activity they did written on it with their donation.
The idea for the virtual run came to science teacher Bradley Amundson after the success of a previous virtual run he was informed about.
“I got an email last year to be part of a virtual run for the teacher that died a couple years ago in Williston,” Amundson said. “They had over 30,000 participants in theirs, so I figured if we could have a few more, because I know not everybody can make it to the run.”
Aside from the virtual run, another change in the 2013 Team Ian run is the fact that this will be the first run Ian Alves will not being able to make personally. Unfortunately, Amundson is worried for the effects this will have on the number of participants.
“I think the first run, we had a lot of people participate because it was the first one and it was so new and it was a unique thing to happen to West Fargo High School,” Amundson said. “Last year right before the run Ian came and told everybody that he wasn’t going to continue treatment. The fact that he’s not here I don’t think there will be as big of a turnout. That’s the honest truth. I don’t think it’s any reflection on Ian, I just don’t think people can make it out as easy.”
Even Alves’ mother, Lise Alves predicts that Ian’s absence will change the run.
“The energy is going to be different,” Lise said. “Ian is not going to be here, and he was such an integral part of it, but I hope that knowing that we’re going to make a difference will take on a different tone.”
However, these predictions for the decrease in participation only last for one year. Even though the students in high school may not know Ian in the upcoming years, they will see the proceeds of the run go to cancer societies and oncology groups, and not to just the Alves family, which will help pressure students into participating, Amundson said.
This year would have been Ian’s senior year and so some students in the high school already do not know who he was, but junior Andrea Milbrath thinks that this will not affect their support for Team Ian’s cause.
“I think even though people who know him may have graduated, they will come back,” Milbrath said. “I am hoping it will be a tradition to do this. It’s nice to know people still care and support him.”
With the support that Lise still sees in the school on a day-to-day basis, she feels the love of the students and how they have not forgotten what happened to Ian.
“When I walk through the school, I enjoy seeing Team Ian shirts,” Lise said. “I still see Ian. I am hoping this will be a way to honor Ian and his fight.”