'Team Twyla' Gets Ready For Duluth's Relay For Life

DULUTH - People across the Northland are getting ready to walk in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life starting Friday night.As all 28 teams have their own story, Fox 21 caught up with Team Twyla. For the past five months, Twyla Elletson has been battling lung cancer, bone cancer and a brain tumor. This weekend, more than 20 friends will dress up and walk in her honor."I'm just very fortunate," Elletson said. It's not every day Elletson pulls out her favorite hats, jewelry, and ribbon to become the life of the party in her own home. With one look, you can tell she's not the type to slow down. “She could run circles around any of us before this happened,” laughed long-time family friend Janis Beyer. “Now she's just a little bit more tired.” It was a few months ago when Elletson started not feeling well, and was diagnosed with the infamous ‘c-word.’ “I think looking at my grandchildren's face when they know I’m sick is the hardest,” Elletson sighed. Growing up with a coal mine as her back yard, Elletson is the 4th of her 12 siblings to be faced with lung cancer. She compares her experience to her sisters. The disease took her life five years ago. “I didn't lose my hair, I didn't get so sick,” Elletson said. “It's got to be because they've done a lot of research.” Elletson’s summer has been filled with trips to the doctor for chemotherapy, radiations, and surgeries. With most of her family living miles from home, she counts on the ones who step in when family is needed. They call themselves the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. “I wouldn't expect anything less from our family,” Beyer said. “It's just what we do so it's wonderful. When Relay for Life came around, Elletson’s sisterhood knew it was time to jump into action making hats, t-shirts and angel necklaces to show support for people fighting the same battle. “It's so wonderful that they can be so unselfish and help people like myself and others who have the c-word,” Elletson said. Friday evening Team Twyla will suit up in their best hats, and walk through the night to show their neighbor, friend, and fill-in-grandma still has a fighting chance. So far, Team Twyla has raised $1,310. For more information on the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, click here.