PEORIA – (September 10, 2013) This year, more than 60,000 primary brain tumors will be diagnosed in the U.S.

In an effort to reach out to brain tumor survivors and help raise funds for brain tumor research, Mark Linder founded the Walk for the Mind in 2003. That first walk attracted over 150 walkers on the Peoria Riverfront and raised over $12,000 for research programs. While Mark died in 2005, at age 31, the walk lives on and to date has raised more than $330,000 for research.

This year Honorable Judge James Shadid, who lost his own brother to the deadly disease, will be the honorary chairperson.

WHAT: Mark Linder Walk for the Mind one mile walk and raffle
WHEN & WHERE: Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Peoria RiverPlex. Registration and raffle opens at 7:30 a.m. The Walk begins at 9:30 a.m.

ALSO: Entry fee is $20 for adults and $10 for children (10 years and younger). Survivors are free. Children’s activities are provided. The extensive raffle includes items such as pizza for a year from Papa John’s, a condo stay in the Ozarks and Chicago Bears tickets. More information is available at www.marklinderwalkforthemind.org.

This is the second year that all net proceeds will be donated to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria.

“We are thankful for this wonderful partnership with the Mark Linder Walk for the Mind. Funds raised will help support Dr. Andrew Tsung’s vital research to understand the mechanisms that make cancers grow and invade,” said Regional Dean Dr. Sara Rusch, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. “This is research that we hope will lead to breakthroughs originating here in the laboratory at the College of Medicine and then someday translate to brain cancer treatment at the Illinois Neurologic Institute here in Peoria.”