Los Angeles Resident Helps Make Breakthroughs in Brain Tumor Research and Patient Care
There are 700,000 people in the U.S. living with a brain tumor, and each day, another 500 people will receive a brain tumor diagnosis. The ABTA’s BT5K Los Angeles Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K Run & Walk brings together the brain tumor community to help raise funds for programs supporting these patients and their caregivers, as well as funding critical brain tumor research.
The event was started in 2011 by Arcadia resident Mark Perry, after he lost his father, Eric, to a brain tumor. In just six short years, the event has grown from a small group of family and friends with a goal of raising $4,000 to a major event for the American Brain Tumor Association. This year, the event has already raised nearly $60,000 towards its target of $150,000 and will draw hundreds of participants who have been impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis, like the Perry family.
“Mark has been an incredible partner and advocate, and has worked tirelessly to help the ABTA put together this event to honor his father, and all those facing a brain tumor diagnosis,” says Jessica Wlodarski, an ABTA advancement specialist. “It will be a day of celebration and remembrance as patients, families, friends, and health care professionals come together to make important breakthroughs.”
The Los Angeles BT5K will be held on April 9, at The Fairplex in Pomona. Thousands of participants are expected to attend the family friendly event, which has a timed 5K as well as an untimed walk. For more information or to register, visit www.bt5K.org or call (800) 886-1281.
