Posted: 7/11/07
Dr. Peter Overgaard is honorary co-chair of 2007 Relay For Life
 Marianna and Peter Overgaard |
Dr. Peter Overgaard has been selected by the American Cancer Society as the honorary co-chair of the 2007 Relay For Life of Chisago County, which will be held on Friday, July 27 beginning at 6 p.m. with a Survivors Reception and culminating at 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 28 at the Almelund Threshing Grounds.
Peter is a retired physician from Fairview Lakes Regional Hospital but is one of the busiest guys around. His hobbies include gardening and yard work during this time of year. "I have a love/hate relationship with mowing, tree trimming, and all of the maintenance it takes to keep up a 2-acre lot on the lake. I am thankful to live in such a beautiful location, although it is a lot of work. Today I was most appreciative when my sons showed up to help me out with the yard work," he said with a chuckle, on a 90 degree July day.
"Along with yard work," he continued, "I really like to work in my vegetable garden. I am an Albert Lee farm boy at heart and I like to have my hands in good soil." One look at Overgaard's garden and you know it is tended with care, as are so many other things in his life.
Marianna and Peter were high school sweethearts and also went to college together at The University of Minnesota. They were married when Overgaard was a senior in Pharmacy School. "Marianna and I have been blessed with a great marriage and family," he commented with pride.
From 1957, he worked for four years in retail pharmacy and it was a tragedy in his family that propelled him to go on to medical school. The Overgaard's lost their first baby at 19 months to a kidney complication. Overgaard returned to college at the University of Minnesota Medical School to prepare for his new career.
The Navy was where Overgaard interned in medicine; the family spent three years in New Port, Rhode Island. "The Navy trained me well and I learned a lot about obstetrics and general surgery. Marianna and I had little children and we were both very happy and very busy, which is nothing new," remarked Overgaard.
"The rest is history as we chose to settle in the Chisago Lakes area. I enjoyed working in Family Practice for 29 years and retired on July 10, 1998. Now I like to golf more often, spend time with our 10 grandchildren, as well as our four children and their spouses, volunteer for various organizations, and I had my own airplane for seven years and enjoy flying."
Sounds like a near perfect life, doesn't it? Yet, almost everyone we know can tell stories about someone they love having cancer, and that is true of the Overgaard's, too. Overgaard was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2005 and went through treatment to fight cancer.
"My cancer was discovered by a routine yearly examination and blood test - PSA. Cancer does not always exhibit symptoms, so it is important to be your own advocate when it comes to your own health. Having a primary care physician that knows you is important and it is your job to get a check-up on a regular basis," said Overgaard.
"Denial is often our own worst enemy. Listen to your body and pay attention to things that are not normal to you. You know when you are just not feeling up to par, but you have to ask for help and get an accurate diagnosis for treatment," said Dr. Overgaard. "Trust your instincts."
"Educate yourself about preventative measures if your family has a history of cancer. Take tests earlier as your doctor recommends, like a colonoscopy or a mammogram, to set the bar as to what is normal for your body. There are so many resources out there that are available to help in learning about cancer and your options for treatment. The American Cancer Society has done a good job of reaching out to people and teaching them about Cancer," said Overgaard.
Peter and Marianna Overgaard attend Zion Evangelical Church in Chisago City which is heavily involved in the Relay For Life of Chisago County. The church currently has three teams of participants as well as several other members involved in the planning of the event.
Relay For Life is a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. Funds raised help support life-saving research into new treatments and diagnostic tests, as well as patient services and early detection/prevention programs. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, you can find local resources and cancer information by calling 1-800-ACS-2345 or visiting www.cancer.org.
For more information about the Relay For Life of Chisago County, please contact Sue Frame at (651) 257-2033 or sframe@chisagolakes.k12.mn.us.
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