Cook County News Herald

Mushin’ and Rollin’ for a breast cancer cure





Eight-time log rolling and boom running champion Jenny Atkinson and her super-supporter Jessica Berg-Collman at the Grand Marais pool.

Eight-time log rolling and boom running champion Jenny Atkinson and her super-supporter Jessica Berg-Collman at the Grand Marais pool.

After a shocking December 9, 2009 diagnosis of breast cancer, Jenny Atkinson, 36, of Clearwater Lake immediately put on her rally cap just as she has in difficult situations before. She consulted with a great team of doctors, set out a treatment plan, and started chemotherapy just four days after celebrating her first Christmas as a mother. As eight-time log rolling and boom running world champion, she draws strength from within and knows that a positive attitude and believing in yourself is an absolute critical part of conquering this battle. Her timber sport protégé, 13-year-old Jessica Berg-Collman, is also working on conquering breast cancer through raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation as a musher in the fourth annual Mush For a Cure. She will be racing her dogs on March 13 in a 24-mile FUNdraiser
event starting on Gunflint Lake at noon. This year she is running the race in honor of her coach, Jenny.

You can find all details about the event at www.mushforacure. com

“One out of seven women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. One out of 247 will be in their 30s. This is a staggering statistic and I am really proud that a local youth like Jess is working to help find a cure for this disease,” said Jenny. “When people find out I am currently fighting this battle, I don’t know if one person that I can think of hasn’t told me of another person that they personally know of who has gone through it. It is incredible!

“I hope one day that Jessica’s generation of girls will not have to look into the eyes of their children and treasure each day while hoping
to be there for each milestone in their child’s life. At some point, and hopefully sooner rather than later, a cure will be found and this will be a disease from days gone by.

“I really
look forward to that day for all of us. For now, I am so thankful for the advances the medical field has made with breast cancer and knowing that many people are continuing to work to raise funds for greater awareness, research, and new advancements. I am excited to have my whole family here on the Gunflint Trail for Mush For A Cure. It is something I am happy all of us will experience together this year.”

Just after Jenny’s second round of intense chemo and a newly shaved head, she and Jess were back in the Grand Marais pool for more log rolling training. “It felt great!” exclaimed Jenny. “I felt more alive than at any time since my diagnosis. I was having so much fun and my doctors told me that exercise is really important throughout this process!

It was also the first time her 10-month-old son, Berendt, was on a log. “He loved it too. Bear is such a water baby, that he was all smiles bouncing his feet on top of the log!” Jenny is really happy to report that her sponsors, Central Boiler Outdoor Furnaces and Wood- Mizer Portable Sawmills, are behind her 100% and are excited to endorse her for another season of competition in 2010. Jenny’s new competition jersey will definitely be pink.

You can learn more about her timber sports career and see cool YouTube videos at www.jennyatkinson.com. You can also follow Jenny’s breast cancer journey on her www.CaringBridge site: jennyatkinson.

Mush for a Cure is a sled dog fundraiser on Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail. This March 12-13th marks the 4th Annual Mush for a Cure. Last year’s participating sled dog teams raised over $25,000 in pledges for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Visit www.mushforacure.com for complete information.


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