Hiking the steps to bring awareness to brain cancer

On September 6, Dr. Matthew Hunt will embark on a 350-mile, five-week hike from Ely to Duluth in honor of his 50th birthday. Dr. Hunt has a passion for the outdoors and felt the best way to commemorate this important milestone was to use his adventure to raise awareness for brain cancer. Along the way, he is also gathering support for two charities: Humor to Fight the Tumor, a local charity that supports U of M researchers, and the Glenn Garcelon Foundation, a patient support organization. This foundation was founded by the wife of a patient Dr. Hunt cared for.

Dr. Hunt, a member of the Masonic Cancer Center and a neurosurgeon at M Physicians and M Health Fairview, prepared for the trip with general fitness training and hiking with extra weight to prepare for the food and supplies he will need to carry.

“The journey is more important than the destination,” he says, and this will be a time for him to reflect and connect with nature. Five weeks is a long time to spend alone, however, friends will be joining him for periods of time along the way.

Dr. Hunt’s journey begins outside Ely and will conclude on October 12 at the Lift Bridge in Duluth. He will travel along the Kekekabic, Border Route and Superior Hiking Trails.

You can follow his progress as B3C - Backpacking to Beat Brain Cancer on Facebook and Instagram, or with his satellite tracker. Donate to Humor to Fight the Tumor here and the Glenn Garcelon Foundation here.