We are lucky to have so many teams participating in this year’s 11th Annual Head for the Cure 5K – Mid-Missouri taking place on Saturday, July 18th at Stephens Lake Park! In honor of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, we are sharing one of those team stories! Team Mark has supported the local Mid-Missouri brain tumor community by participating in this annual event every year since 2013. Learn more about Team Mark’s story below!
Mark Weaver was diagnosed with an Astrocytoma and a Glioblastoma in 2012. After a valiant and courageous nearly 15-month battle, Mark passed away on September 12th, 2013. Mark had enormous warmth, humility, and a deep Christian faith. He had a sharp sense of humor, even throughout his illness. He loved farming the land and enjoyed the beauty in everything God created. Mark was a brilliant businessman, a loyal and trustworthy friend, and a treasure to everyone who knew him.
In 2013 Mark’s family, friends and coworkers came together as Team Mark to participate in the Head for the Cure Mid-Missouri 5K. Team captain for Team Mark, Jamie McDonald, shared, “We have been blessed for many years now to have many team members return to the team as well as new ones join us.”.
Left behind to carry on his fight for a cure for brain cancer are his devoted wife, Tina, their son Brennan, their daughter Farrell and her husband Mikel. Also fighting on Mark’s behalf are his parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and hundreds of friends. One thing is certain, Mark will forever be remembered by all those whose lives he touched.
Since coming together in 2013, Team Mark has experienced even more loss due to this terrible disease. The team lost a dear coworker to brain cancer in 2019 and the team captain, Jamie, also lost her uncle in recent years to the disease. These losses provide Team Mark with even more reasons and motivation to fight against this deadly disease! They have fought back against this disease by spreading awareness, raising funds and igniting hope all throughout the brain tumor community. Team Mark has consistently been one of the largest and top fundraising teams for the past several years and this year will surely be no different! They have found a way to fight back against this deadly disease and so can you!
Want to show your support for the Mid-Missouri brain tumor community?! Register for the 5K or make a donation today in honor of Brain Tumor Awareness Month! Funds raised through the 11th Annual Head for the Cure 5K – Mid-Missouri will support vital brain cancer research and programs at both the University of Missouri Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative.