Palo Alto’s Future Brain Cancer Institute is hosting the third annual Run for the Future April 30 at the Palo Alto Baylands. The event features individual and group competitions for runners of all abilities and ages: 5k/10k run and walk, 10k run and Kids’ run.

Free food, raffle prizes, music by the Wild 94.9 radio station and master of ceremonies John Farley, weatherman at NBC11, will offer an active day for participants and supporters.

New Run for the Future kids’ races emphasize fun, fitness and philanthropy in the under-13 age group. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in children. Tailored specifically for elementary schoolchildren, the kids’ races will feature several age-appropriate distances, and children of any age can participate with friends and family in the adult 5k run and walk or 10k run.

Dr. Meredith L. Warshaw, co-founder of the Future Brain Cancer Institute, said she is optimistic about the Run for the Future 2006. “The run is special because it features a unique sense of community support and hope,” she said. “Participants have the experience of a fun event that encourages fund-raising in an exciting, community-oriented setting. Many people in our community are not aware of the debilitating risks of brain cancer and the low government funding for research in this area, despite the high number of patients in the Bay Area.”

The Future Brain Cancer Institute (FBCI) is a non-profit organization located in downtown Palo Alto dedicated to providing support and information to brain cancer patients in the Bay Area. The institute is run by volunteers and supports more than 200 members of the community. Through its partnership with the UCSF Medical Center Brain Tumor Research Center, the Future Brain Cancer Institute expands new areas of brain cancer research and treatment and spreads awareness of brain cancer.

For more information, call Marci Reichelstein or Linda Frommer at 328-7900 or visit www.saveyourbrain.org.