Walk for the Mind scheduled

The 11th annual Mark Linder Walk for the Mind to support research into brain tumors is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, stepping off from the RiverPlex.

Entry fee is $20 for adults and $10 for children age 10 and under. Survivors walk free. Registration and a raffle begins at 7:30 a.m. The one-mile walk begins at 9:30 a.m.

The purpose of the walk, which was founded in 2003 by Mark Linder, is to raise funds for brain tumor research. 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 Dr. Sara Rusch, regional dean of UICOMP, in a news release. "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."

The release said that this year more than 60,000 primary brain tumors will be diagnosed in the United States.

Mark Linder founded the walk after being diagnosed with a brain tumor and the first walk attracted more than 150 walkers to the riverfront and raised more than $12,000. To date, the walk has raised more than $330,000.

Linder died in 2005 at the age of 31.

Honorary chairman of this year's Walk for the Mind will be Judge James Shadid, whose brother George died from a brain tumor.

Raffle items for this year's event will include Chicago Bears tickets, a condo stay in the Ozarks and pizza for a year, courtesy of Papa John's.

For more information visit www.marklinderwalkforthemind.org.