After losing their daughter to brain cancer nearly 10 years ago, a Northwoods family is trying to prevent others from going through the same pain.

Nearly 10 years ago, 9-year-old Callie Rohr died of brain cancer.

But a few years after her death, her family decided to turn their tragedy into something positive, and the idea for the Callie Rohr Memorial Canoe and Kayak Race was born.

"Callie loved to paddle. In fact, when we started the resort in '92, a paddling resort and campground, her and I spent the summers up here building the resort. She was only 3 and 1/2 then. She was solo paddling at seven years old. So this is in her honor, in her name," Jeff Rohr, her father said.

"She would love this. She loved having a party and this party's about her," Marcia Rohr, her mother said.

The race is now an annual event that raises money for the American Brain Tumor Association to help fund brain cancer research.

"We felt we needed to do something to prevent another family and more importantly, another child from going through what we went through and what Callie went through because it isn't good and if we could save one child from having to go throught that horrendous deal, all of this would be worth it, every single time," Marcia Rohr said.

The Rohr's say even though she's no longer here, Callie is a huge part of the race.

In fact, they say she's in charge of the weather for the event and this year she came through with flying colors.

"We went from drought conditions to the most wonderful paddling conditions ever in five days. That should tell you something," Jeff Rohr said.

In the past five years of the event, the Rohr's have raised $62,000 to support brain cancer research.