LUVERNE -- With the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks approaching on Sept. 11, Diane Sherwood continues to do all she can to help rescue workers battling health issues due to exposure of toxins and chemicals they encountered at Ground Zero during cleanup of the World Trade Center's twin towers.
On Saturday, the Luverne woman has organized the fourth annual Remember Rally, a motorcycle ride aimed at raising funds to help rescue workers and their families with mounting medical bills. The rally will begin with registration at Sharkee's Sports Bar in Luverne at 11 a.m., with the cyclists departing at 12:30 p.m. Stops this year include Adrian, the Iowa communities of Rock Rapids, Doon and Newton Hills, Canton, S.D., Beaver Creek and Hardwick. The group will return to Luverne between 6 and 7 p.m.
Normally conducted the second Saturday in September, Sherwood said they moved the event up this year to allow people to take part in gatherings marking the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
"Last year, we had a couple of comments from other groups around the U.S. that there were conflicts with too many other events going on," Sherwood said. About 10 other states have planned a Remember Rally to help Sherwood in her goal to raise funds for the rescue workers.
In Luverne, the community's firetrucks will stop traffic on U.S. 75 to allow for the motorcycles to leave Sharkee's as a group. They will drive through downtown Luverne as they head toward Adrian. Sherwood said the community is invited to watch the cycles pass through the downtown business district, and people are invited to take part in the ride either by motorcycle or to follow along with a vehicle.
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Although Sherwood didn't know anyone personally who was impacted by the terrorist attacks, she said watching the rescue mission on television made her realize the health-care needs those workers would need in the future.
"There were literally hundreds of chemicals and toxins when those buildings collapsed, and their bodies are full of those right now," Sherwood said, adding that she has spent a lot of time researching the impact of exposure to things such as asbestos and other toxins. "We need to do everything we can to treat those people."
In addition to diagnoses of World Trade Center cough, rescue workers are battling asthma, headaches and an array of cancers, she added.
"I think it's important for people to remember that this is an issue that's not going away," Sherwood said. "People think that Sept.11 is over, but thousands of people are sick now. Rescue workers have died."
Deaths attributed directly to Sept. 11 number close to 60, but Sherwood said the number of people with health issues related to their exposure to chemicals and toxins are in the thousands.
"Breathing problems have become so severe in people," she said, adding that the cancer rate has also surged -- with some rescue workers diagnosed with two or more different types of cancer.
In telling the story of a rescue worker who recently had pancreatic surgery, Sherwood grew emotional as she explained how cancer had now moved into his lung. The medication used to treat the cancer has resulted in a side effect causing blood to seep from his head, including his eyes.
"These guys are really struggling," Sherwood said tearfully. "Of course, there's a lot of emotional problems, too, from the people who were down at Ground Zero.
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"Some of these people have been sick for going on five years," she added. "If we get sick for two or three days, we're miserable. (Their health ailments are) not something that's just going to shut off. I think these people will be suffering for many years."
Following the first two years of the Remember Rally, 100 percent of the proceeds were donated to a special program for rescue workers at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York. As of last year, Sherwood said the money raised by the local Remember Rally and those around the country will be placed in a restricted fund to directly help rescue workers in need.
"They have to show us proof that they need help," Sherwood said. "We cannot just hand them cash."
