2025 Walk by Faith Gala

The Walk by Faith Gala was debuted to honor the vibrant legacy of Faith Nelson, Maddy's sister, who passed away in 2023 as a result of a snowmobile accident. Faith attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where she was a junior majoring in business administration-entrepreneurship, and minoring in art with an emphasis in ceramics. She was a talented potter, excelled on the volleyball court and softball field and enjoyed hiking, camping and hunting. Faith loved life, lived it to the fullest, and consistently honored her sister Maddy through loving acts of kindness.

This black-tie gala is a fundraiser that will celebrate and honor the life of Faith. The Walk by Faith Gala will feature a social hour, dinner and dessert, auction as well as other memorable moments throughout the evening. Funds raised at the Walk by Faith Gala will benefit The Maddy Nelson Foundation by supporting two organizations: Faith's Lodge and Camp Norden.

Faith's Lodge was established to provide a special facility where parents and families coping with the death of a child can find hope and strength. Camp Norden is a camp that was created for kids who have been affected by cancer. Through a safe and fun in-person or virtual experience, campers build lifelong friendships and experience adventure through this one-of-a-kind camp. 

In February 2013, while a freshman at Cambridge-Isanti High School, Madison "Maddy" Nelson was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. The remainder of her freshman year, and half of her sophomore year consisted of numerous chemotherapy treatments, hospital stays, radiation treatments and multiple surgeries. In January 2014, Maddy was considered "cancer free" and was done with her cancer treatments. In May 2015, at the end of her junior year, Maddy's cancer returned. Once again, she was receiving multiple chemotherapy treatments, radiation treatments, and surgeries that proceeded into her entire senior year.

On May 24, 2016, Maddy passed away. She was 18 years old and just 10 days shy of her high school graduation. Maddy was a typical teenager who loved life, loved her family and friends, and simply adored little children. She was an avid softball and volleyball player, huge Minnesota Wild fan, attended every possible concert she could, and loved spending time making memories with her friends, especially on Spectacle Lake. The Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation is a charitable organization that exists to honor Maddy's legacy, support children facing life-threatening illnesses, provide scholarships for students pursuing a post-secondary education, and support other organizations with similar missions.