News
Team Harley runs for a cure
Owatonna People’s Press
OWATONNA, MN — In one respect, Team Harley’s goal was simple: All they wanted to do was finish the Owatonna Rotary/Steele County Free Fair 4-Mile Run. But there’s a lot more to it than that.
Harley Janke’s team taking off from the starting line
The family ran with the hope that dad and granddad Harley Janke will be well enough to see them cross the finish line next year, too.
To that end, they donned personalized T-shirts (emblazoned with “Run 4 Poppa”) and took to the road on Saturday.
Team Harley consisted of the Mamers (Elin and her daughters Libby and Frannie), the Martins (Sue and her daughter Katie), and Becky Lukes and her children — Jamie Brick and Jaymes Lukes, age 6. Becky and Elin are Janke’s daughters. Most of those in the group live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Harley Janke has Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. He went undetected until 12 years ago. Over time it has caused emphysema. The family is now waiting to see if he would be a suitable candidate for a lung transplant.
