×

Hope Starts Here Challenge slated for Saturday: Event to support brain tumor research, raise awareness

The River Valley Bank Hope Starts Here Challenge will be held Saturday and offers participants of all ages an opportunity to run, walk or bike in a variety of competitive and leisurely events. The challenge is a fundraiser for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, which is a collaborative effort between UP Health System-Marquette and Northern Michigan University that seeks to advance brain tumor research and treatment through “bench to bedside” research. Pictured, participants in the 10K race take off at the starting line behind Lakeview Arena in Marquette for the 2015 annual River Valley Bank Hope Starts Here Challenge. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — For anyone looking to show support for those impacted by brain tumors, Saturday’s River Valley Bank Hope Starts Here Challenge will raise funds for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center through a wide variety of competitive and leisurely events including a half-marathon, an individual or team duathlon, a 10K run, a 5K run, a leisure walk, or a 1-mile kids’ run for those 10 and under.

“The whole focus of the event is really community awareness of brain tumors and support for families who have been impacted by family members or friends who have brain tumors,” said Robert Winn of NMU and UMBTC.

Proceeds from the challenge will benefit the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, a collaboration between Northern Michigan University and UP Health System-Marquette brings clinicians, researchers and NMU students together to advance treatment, research, education and advocacy for people who are impacted by brain tumors, organizers said.

Now in its 14th year, the Hope Starts Here Challenge has been a way for hundreds of people to come out and show their support for patients with brain tumors and UMBTC’s activities, organizers said.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser, but aside from that, it is really about community and a lot of the same participants come back, year after year,” UMBTC Lab Director Amber LaCrosse said, adding that the challenge is “a little bit more than just a fundraiser, it definitely becomes more like a family and community support event.”

Funds raised by the event support the research done at the UMBTC lab, which aims to increase the quality of life for brain tumor patients through research, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure or better treatment for brain tumors, Winn said.

“We’re just trying to understand the science behind brain tumors so that we can improve patient outcomes in the future,” Winn said. “And we’re training the next generation of scientists, they’re the ones who are going to figure out how to cure this thing.”

The funds also support chemo care packages for patients, Winn and LaCrosse said.

“This year they’re going to be doing backpacks for the patients that are undergoing chemotherapy for brain cancer and this is a way for us to give back directly to the community and do something for up health systems because they do so much for us for the Hope Starts Here Challenge,” LaCrosse said.

The Hope Starts Here Challenge is important for researchers and students, LaCrosse said, as it allows them “to see more of the clinical side and why we do what we do.”

“These stories are real. And everybody will know somebody with cancer at some point,” LaCrosse said. “I think it’s always important to keep the big picture in mind — and Hope Starts Here allows that to happen.”

River Valley Bank has been involved in supporting the challenge for several years and has been the event’s title sponsor since 2014, as the staff believes in “giving back to the community that we’re in,” said Ashley Cody, vice president Marquette market manager for River Valley Bank.

“This is one of the events that really brings a lot of people together in the community together for a great cause as the hospital and the university continue to work together for brain tumor research,” she said.

Many River Valley employees also volunteer their time at the event, Cody said, as it’s a cause that many are dedicated to supporting.

“It’s an event that our employees also get involved with through their volunteer time,” she said. “So in addition to the monetary donation, we also have volunteers that participate through the pre-event expo and the race day on Saturday.”

The UMBTC is grateful to have the continued support of River Valley Bank and others who have supported UMBTC and the challenge, organizers said.

“We’re always very grateful for the people who come out and participate and support us in lots of ways,” Winn said.

Organizers of the challenge encourage attendees to attend the 11 a.m. lunch and awards ceremony at Lakeview Arena, which will recognize winners of the competitive events, as well as volunteers.

All events will begin and end Saturday at Lakeview Arena, located at at 401 E. Fair Ave., Marquette.

The half marathon starts at 8 a.m., the duathlon at 8:30 a.m., the kids’ run at 9:15 a.m., the leisure walk at 9:45 a.m., the 10K at 10 a.m. and the 5K at 10:15 a.m.

Online registration is available through Thursday night at www.nmu.edu/umbtc/registration. Packet pick-up will be Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m at Lakeview Arena.

In-person registration is also available during Friday’s packet pick-up and from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, with half-marathon registration ending at 7:45 a.m.

All competitive events will have chip timing. A complimentary Subway lunch after the event will be provided with each paid registration at the awards ceremony and lunch at Lakeview Arena.

Those who aren’t able to participate in the running, walking or biking events but are interested in attending the awards ceremony and lunch may purchase a lunch for $5.

Furthermore, if a person is unable to participate in the challenge itself Saturday but would like to contribute and show their support, tax-deductible donations and mile markers are available. For more information on donations and sponsorship, visit www.nmu.edu/umbtc/sponsorship.

For more information, including a full description of each event and course, along with maps, visit https://www.nmu.edu/umbtc/about-event.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today