“Brains Together For a Cure”

5K Walk in Rochester, Minnesota Raises Over $35,000

Brain Cancer Survivor and local on-air journalist Stacy Lilienthal shares her inspirational story with the crowd at the first Brains Together For a Cure 5K Walk in Rochester MN

When confronted with a brain tumor, patients encounter repeated visits to clinics and doctors for countless tests and treatments. They are welcomed on these visits, first and most frequently, by the nurses and clinicians who care for the patients and help navigate them through unending appointments, procedures…and waiting.

At the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, a group of these front-line heroes and some of their patients decided to do something more in the fight against brain cancer.  They formed an organization called “Brains Together For a Cure” and decided to host a 5K walk in their community to raise funds and awareness of brain cancer.

This caring core of volunteers nurtured the idea, bringing to fruition their first walk on October 26, 2007.  It was an amazing event, bringing together many local families affected by the disease. The cause received national exposure and the group was pleased to host representatives from the Tug McGraw Foundation, the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation and the American Brain Tumor Association. Working with co-founders Sue Steinmetz and Deb Sprau from The Mayo Clinic, the Tug McGraw Foundation offered design services for the logo to the organization. In typical collaborative fashion, Sue and Debbie consulted with staff and patients to determine the final design, which was featured on T-shirts and their website at www.brainstogetherforacure.org.

After the first Brains Together For a Cure 5K Walk, this band of brothers entertained the crowd. The brothers have a special connection to the cause, as their father passed away after battling a brain tumor.

The initial goal of the team was to attract 100 walkers for the inaugural event, but event organizers were overwhelmed to find over 500 people turning up to participate on the crisp Rochester morning. The Rochester Community and Technical College was the perfect location, offering walkers the option of either indoor or outdoor walking. A post-walk celebration featured comments and stories from researchers, patients and families.  The walk raised over $35,000 which will stay in Rochester for research and awareness activities.

Brain tumor patient and organization leader Sue Hruska summed it up when she said “My personal hope before I leave this earth is that brain cancer researchers will have the resources necessary to start working on a cure and give us a fighting chance.”