Valley students to raise money for brain tumor research - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Valley students to raise money for brain tumor research

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By Jason Barry - bio | email
SSBTR Walk-a-thon 2012 SSBTR Walk-a-thon 2012

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ (CBS5) -

Thousands of Valley high school students are getting together Saturday to raise money for a good cause.

The annual Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research walk-a-thon will be held at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 23.

SSBTR was founded in 2002, shortly after three students from the Paradise Valley School District, were diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Brain cancer has become the No. 1 cancer killer of teenagers in the United States.

The first walk-a-thon had a couple hundred participants and raised $7,500.

Last year, the event attracted more than 3,000 participants and raised $215,000.

Since 2002, SSBTR has raised more than $1.75 million.

The money has been distributed to the Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, the National Brain Tumor Society, TGen and Steele Children´s Research Center in Tucson. Ninety-three percent of every dollar raised goes directly to these institutions to fund brain tumor research.

This organization and event is run entirely by students.

SSBTR has become the largest student-run, nonprofit group in Arizona.

This year's event will run from noon until 3 p.m. at Saguaro High School. Gates open at 11 a.m.

There will be food, live music and a silent auction.

For more information visit www.ssbtr.org.

Copyright 2013 CBS 5 (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.