2025 KAT-Walk & Karo-5k

The 17th Annual KAT-Walk & Karo-5K for Brain Aneurysm Awareness took place on September 21, 2025, in Portland. Families from Maine and across New England came together to celebrate their survival or to honor the memory of loved ones lost to brain aneurysms. The weather was perfect for the event, attracting over 275 participants who “shared their tears, remembered with love, and walked and ran to honor.”

Key highlights of the day was the award of the 2025 Scholarships to five students pursuing degrees in Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy and the presentation of three MMC Endowment Fund Scholarships.

This year, 25 brain aneurysm survivors, along with their families and friends, took part in the event. This year’s honor team (Team Moo-Moo) holds a special place in our committee’s heart as its name-sake, LeRay Bassett — or Moo Moo, as her grandchildren call her, celebrates her 50th anniversary of surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm! Also honored was Committee member, Amy Higgins celebrating her 30th anniversary of a ruptured Brain Aneurysm in 1995.

Sixteen teams were acknowledged for their fundraising achievements, including top fundraisers such as Team Karolina, Team Cheyanne, Team Heidi, Team Amy 30 Milestoners, Team Joy, Team Midge, Team Sarah Smith, Miracles on the Move, Artful Dodgers, Island Girls Rock, BURRvivors, Help me Rhonda, and Team Marley Rose.

We extend our gratitude to the Scarborough High School Cheerleaders for their annual support to cheer on the walkers & runners. We thank New England Rehab, Rehab Without Walls, Maine Medical Center Stroke Program, the Michael Goulet Foundation, and Stryker Neurovascular for exhibiting at the walk. And we thank our event sponsors: Geiger and the Farmer’s Almanac, SGK Design & Build, J&M Flooring, Floyd Brown Construction, P&C Insurance, and Anthem.

Thanks to your generous contributions, we raised over $24,000 for brain aneurysm awareness, education, research funding, and general support for the brain aneurysm community in Maine and northern New England. To all the families who participated, whether to celebrate survival or to remember those lost – thank you for joining us and for your ongoing support in making this day special for so many affected by brain aneurysms.

• David Colby Young from Maine Running Photos
• MBAA Committee member Steve Callahan
• Allyn Genest from Kennebunk, Maine