Since 2012, the Walk for the Mind has donated the proceeds to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria– Brain Tumor research program led by Dr. Kiran Velpula and Dr. Andrew Tsung. Currently, the lab’s research has been focused on Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive type of brain tumor that is traditionally very difficult to treat and a cure is not often possible.
The Walk for the Mind is open to funding local research into any into treatment and/ or cure for the various known brain tumors. Prior to 2012, the Walk for the Mind was donating funds to the American Brain Tumor Association. After repeatedly seeing those funds donated to research programs that would not directly benefit our community, we made the decision to support UICOMP’s brain tumor research program.
While all our participants do not have glioblastoma tumors, our local neurosurgeons and medical students have access to brain tumor research which we believe results in better care and treatment for everyone fighting all types of brain tumors.