MUSC Brain Tumor Action Month will be held April 30 through May 18.

In honor of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, these events are hosted by the MUSC Brain & Spine Tumor Program in an effort to educate the local community about brain tumors and increase research funding and awareness for brain tumors.

Included in the nine events planned will be a Brain Tumor Action Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 30 in the Horseshoe. It will feature food, informational displays and the band The 3 Dudes. Another major event will be a benefit concert and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. May 12 at The King Street Grille featuring multiple bands and musicians. Tickets will be $10 in advance.

Other events will be educational lectures and an informational display table, a fair, vigil service and an awareness night at the Charleston RiverDogs baseball game.

The majority of these events are free and open to all. There also will be T-shirts and tanks specially designed for this year that will be for sale.

The events are coordinated by Rachel Beard and facilitated by staff of the Neurosciences Department and community volunteers. The idea for it first started when Pierre Giglio, M.D., approached Beard about having some educational materials during National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

In the past five years, the event has grown from an informational table to a week-long celebration with nine events. Last year, more than $10,000 raised went to MUSC Brain Tumor Research.

MUSC's Brain & Spine Tumor Program is a multidisciplinary collaboration among neurosciences, radiation oncology, neuroimaging, neuropathology and Hollings Cancer Center.

To find out more, visit www.MUSC.edu/neurosciences/BTAM or contact Rachel Beard at beardr@musc.edu or 792-6592.