2011 Final Walk Ahead Proceeds Pass $175K

The 2011 Walk Ahead for a Brain Tumor Cure, held Sunday, Oct. 2, attracted 1,667 participants and raised $175,144, organizers have announced.

The donations bring the two-year-old event’s cumulative fundraising total to more than $303,000. Proceeds benefit research and education at the Brain Tumor Center at the UC Neuroscience Institute.

"The importance of this event to our community cannot be overestimated,” said Ronald Warnick, MD, medical director of the UC Brain Tumor Center and chairman of the Mayfield Clinic. "All funds raised remain in Cincinnati, where they will enable us to enhance patient care through education and to explore promising new therapies through clinical trials.”

Chris Knueven and Wally Pagan, both brain tumor survivors, co-chaired the 2010 and 2011 events. They pass the baton to survivor Brian Wiles and his brother, Joe Wiles, who will chair the 2012 Walk Ahead. The 2012 Walk Ahead date, the Wiles brothers announced, is set for Sunday, Oct. 28.

"In our first duty as co-chairs, we would like to thank all the walkers, runners, volunteers, sponsors and donors who supported Walk Ahead this year and to invite them to join us again next year,” Brian Wiles said.

The 5K run and walk began and finished at Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point Park and included a stroll across the Purple People Bridge.

The event was part of Beacon of Hope Weekend, which also featured the 2011 Midwest Regional Brain Tumor Patient Symposium.