The 1st Annual Walk for the Mind was held in 2003. Mark’s creation of the Walk came from his experience of feeling alone when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. His mission was to create brain tumor awareness in the local community. Mark also wanted to raise funds for brain tumor research.
Sadly, Linder lost his battle in 2005 at the age of 31 but not before he got to see his vision making a difference. The Mark Linder Walk for the Mind now attracts over 1000 participants from all over Illinois. A check for $85,000 was presented again in 2021 to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria for their Brain Tumor Research Program.