The Michael Quinlan Brain Tumor Foundation’s eighth annual walk, Journey of Hope,  took place on Saturday, May 9th, 2009.  The Harbor Lawn at Waterfront Park in Louisville, Ky provided a scenic walk along the banks of the Ohio River.  Walkers and Sponsors raised more than $50,000.00 of essential funds for the Foundation. There were close to 300 participants helping to fund services provided by the Foundation, including support groups for patients and survivors, caregiver support, home visits, grief support, educational programs and financial assistance. “We are pleased that we are able to reach so many more people in the Greater Louisville-area,” said MQBTF Support Liaison Cindy Rosser.  “There has been a drastic increase in requests for services in the past two years.  The annual walk helps raise the funds to meet the needs of the people in our community who are affected by brain tumors.”

“The Tribute signs along the walk route brought me to tears, said Kathy Quinlan-Thompson, Co-founder and Director.  It helped me realize why we started the MQBTF over eight years ago.  We wanted to provide a service that would support and empower people along the way.  Seeing loved ones memorialized and honored helps bring it all back into perspective.”

Thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers and donors that made this day possible.  You truly are the backbone of the Michael Quinlan Brain Tumor Foundation and you are the ones who help to build hope.

This year’s walk theme was Journey of Hope and the logo was created by Mary Jo, diagnosed and living with an Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor.  Here is her explanation:

“My interpretation for the Michael Quinlan Brain Tumor Foundation’s Journey of Hope was not only for a person’s journey on the path of life, and in particular people with brain tumors - but also for individuals who quest for more knowledge relating to the brain.  We live in an exciting time when many discoveries are being made involving brain function, with hopeful medical procedures on the horizon.

My simple drawing done in the colors of the MQBTF is actually a composite - combining a person on an uphill path to an unknown destination, with a brain-scape of sorts in the background resembling hills and complex surroundings.               Mary Jo McDonald