From left: JP Velasco, Dr. Sonia Geschwindt, Llewanne Salo, Larry Collister, Dr. Robert Winn, Paul Mann and Amber LaCosse as Collister receives the 2020 Hope Starts Here Fundraising Champion Award. (Submitted photo)

MARQUETTE — IncredibleBank presented a $5,000 check to the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center as the title sponsor of the Hope Starts Here Challenge. The event raises funds and awareness for the UMBTC, a collaborative effort between UP Health System-Marquette, Northern Michigan University, and the Superior Health Foundation.

The UMBTC’s mission is to empower patients and families dealing with brain tumors through advocacy, research, education, and treatment, according to a UPHS press release.

“The students, faculty, and staff of the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center are grateful for the generous support of IncredibleBank for their continued support as the title sponsor of the Hope Starts Here Challenge,” said Dr. Rob Winn, Ph.D., Executive Director for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center. “The Brain Tumor Center is also proud to be part of a community where so many individuals, businesses, and organizations continue to be supportive, especially in a year where our event, like so many others, has been forced to become a virtual event.”

“IncredibleBank is proud to be the 2020 title sponsor of Hope Starts Here. We are committed to our community through monetary support as well as volunteering our time and talent,” said Ashley Cody, Market Vice President-Marquette. “The funds from this event allow students, staff, faculty, and UPHS to continue to provide Hope through their research. These efforts and collaboration are incredible!”

The release states: In an effort to practice social distancing and do our part in keeping our community as safe as possible, this year’s virtual fundraising event for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center offers a duathlon, half marathon, 10-kilometer, 5K, leisure walk, 1-mile kids fun run, 10-mile mountain bike ride, and an all-new 31K run.

To keep our community’s health and safety in mind, register for the virtual event The 2020 IncredibleBank Hope Starts Here Virtual Challenge will begin Aug. 22 and run through Aug. 30. For more information or to register, visit www.hopestartshere.org.

Larry Collister, in honor of his wife Patti, earned the 2020 Hope Starts Here Fundraising Champion award for his $5,000 contribution to the event. Due to the great care Patti received from the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, Larry also decided to donate $1,000 annually.