The upcoming Hope Starts Here Challenge marks its 21st year of uniting the Marquette community to raise critical funds and awareness for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center (UMBTC). A unique collaborative partnership between Northern Michigan University (NMU), the U.P. Health System, and the Superior Health Foundation, the center works to empower families navigating difficult medical journeys. NMU Dean of Arts and Sciences and UMBTC co-founder Dr. Robert Winn notes that local financial support has recently enabled significant breakthroughs in advanced pre-surgical diagnostic tools. These tools give surgeons a much clearer understanding of aggressive cancers like glioblastoma before operating, which directly improves patient outcomes and post-surgery prognoses.
Beyond medical advancements, the annual fundraiser plays a vital role in fostering undergraduate academic innovation right in Marquette. While high-level cancer research is typically reserved for graduate students or postdoctoral fellows at larger institutions, the funding generated by this challenge allows NMU to involve undergraduates in cutting-edge laboratory work. Faculty members supervise research teams that frequently include freshmen and sophomores who are performing sophisticated scientific experiments just a year after graduating high school. This ensures that every dollar raised directly impacts both local scientific discovery and the training of the next generation of scientists.
Scheduled for Saturday, June 13th, 2026, at the NMU Superior Dome, the event features diverse course options designed to be accessible to all fitness levels. The lineup ranges from a grueling 31K challenge, combining a half-marathon and a 10K, down to a casual leisure walk across campus and a one-mile kids' run. Participants can register online or attend a pre-event expo on Friday, June 12th, at the IncredibleBank on Third Street to pick up shirts and bibs, though same-day registration is also welcome. For supporters living outside the Upper Peninsula, a virtual participation option ensures that anyone across the country can join in spirit to honor and support families affected by brain tumors.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Dr. Winn via phone:
For more information, visit NMU's Hope Starts Here page, and to sign up for a run/walk, visit the RunSignUp page.
