In the United States, brain tumors affect about 30 adults out of 100,000 and 4,000-5,700 children and adolescents. There are more than 120 different types of tumors that can develop in the brain, depending on what tissue they arise from. Not all brain tumors are brain cancer, but even benign (or noncancerous) tumors can be dangerous because of their size or location. 

In 2005 and 2016, one of the cofounders was diagnosed with brain tumors. This walk was created to raise money for the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Brain Tumor Research Program. There, doctors and researchers are working tirelessly in studying brain tumors to hopefully find a cure. All the proceeds raised stay local in Peoria. We are a newly approved 501(c)3 not-profit organization. Our organization is run entirely by the three cofounders and volunteers with the focus on keeping expenses as low as possible to donate as much as possible. 

Our idea for the Chillicothe Zombie Walk was to help support and raise awareness and to have a fun time considering the rough times that patients endure. So, we thought who doesn’t love Halloween. We have found more people love this holiday more than any other. Thus, the idea was born of dressing up as a Zombie and walking like one in a horde down Second Street. Zombies eating brains became popular after the 1985 comedy-horror film Return of the Living Dead, in which Zombies feast on brains of the living because it makes them feel better by easing their pain. Well, this is our take on feasting on brains which is fundraising to help ease patients’ pain. 

This will be our 3rd year for the Chillicothe Zombie Walk and we have decided that this year the Horde of Zombies will start off the Halloween parade for The Nightmare on 2nd Street. We have upcoming fundraising events such as Tuesday, August 13th, dine in or carry out at Castaways and they are donating 15% of the proceeds to the Chillicothe Zombie Walk. 

More fundraising events in the works, dates, and times TBD. For more information on upcoming events check out our Facebook page Chillicothe Zombie Walk. 

We are looking for Vendors for Nightmare on Second Street Saturday, October 26 and we would prefer handcrafted items or artwork. Halloween and fall inspired items are strongly encouraged but not a requirement. For more information on being a vendor please contact us on our Facebook page or by email at [email protected]. 

For information for the Halloween Parade, contact Tim White at Chillicothe Appliance. You can stop by his store and get a sign-up form. The store is located at 1016 N 2nd St in Chillicothe. 

Helping to Support and Raise Brain Tumor Awareness One Zombie Step at a Time!