Leukemia Survivor Turns Cancer Walk Into Family Tradition

When Angie Hejl felt tired all the time in summer 2017, she figured a physical exam would clear things up. Within days of her September appointment, doctors rushed her to the hospital with a fever and leg infection, then delivered shocking news: acute myelogenous leukemia.

The active Yankton resident spent months in Sioux Falls receiving chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. She stayed with her daughter between treatments, fighting a blood cancer that attacked her bone marrow.

By May 2018, Hejl was cancer-free and headed home. She gradually rebuilt her strength through exercise and finally stopped taking immune suppression medications in 2023.

In 2021, her daughter convinced her to try something new. The Avera Race Against Cancer in Sioux Falls brought together survivors, families, and supporters for a walk that Hejl says changed everything.

"After walking in it once, she realized how powerful and important this race is to so many," and she's participated every year since. When the race expanded to Yankton in 2023, Hejl became both a volunteer and participant at every single event.

Why This Inspires

Now Hejl walks alongside her husband, sister-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren. The family tradition represents more than celebration for her. It's a way to pay forward the gift she received from the medical team that saved her life.

Her approach balances joy with remembrance. "We need to celebrate surviving, but at the same time, I recognize there are those whose journey ends differently than mine did," Hejl explains.

She walks to cheer current survivors and honor those whose battles ended differently. Each step represents gratitude for her second chance and recognition that every cancer journey matters to someone's loved ones.

The Yankton community now gathers annually for their own race, creating a space where families like the Hejls can walk, celebrate, and remember together.