DETROIT – About 1,500 people laced up their shoes on Belle Isle Sunday morning for the 13th annual Head for the Cure 5K — an event aimed at raising money and awareness for brain cancer.
Runners and walkers of all ages and backgrounds took to the course together, united by a shared mission. Some came as survivors. Others came to honor someone they lost.
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“To me it represents how I never got to meet him. It’s like walking in his name,” said Kaydyn Mack, who walked in memory of a loved one.
For survivors, the event carries a deeply personal weight.
“You know honestly I had a mysterious flare up around my last scan just a few weeks ago, so it really puts you in a sense of purpose,” said Molly Marco, a brain cancer survivor.
Fellow survivor Ryan Lafferty said the event gives people a way to contribute — even without a medical background.
“I’m not a doctor but I can help raise awareness and funding, so the experts can do what they do,” Lafferty said.
Organizers say the event raised more than $224,000 to support brain cancer research and patient programs. Henry Ford Health is among the event’s partners, and a portion of the funding will support their work.
Courtney Watson, director of Programs and Communications for Head for the Cure, said Detroit’s enthusiasm for the event never disappoints.
“People look forward to this every single year in every city we’re in and Detroit is none other you know, it’s amazing to be here,” Watson said.
For those walking in memory of a loved one, the sense of community made the morning all the more meaningful.
“We’re just happy to be a part of this really cool community of survivors, of fighters, of lovers,” said Paula Buckhaulter, who walked in honor of someone close to her.
The Head for the Cure 5K has become a Detroit tradition — and organizers say they hope to keep it going for many more years to come.