Brain cancer patient teams up with Metro Detroit cafes to raise awareness

It is an imitative full circle for a Oakland County women.

After suffering a seizure at a cafe and later learning she had a brain tumor, Molly Marco started Beans 4 Brains.

For the month of May, cafes across Detroit Metro participate by donating a portion of their profits or by raising awareness.

“I live on coffee,” Marco said.

In July 2016, Marco was in a cafe in Detroit when the unexpected happened.

“I was chatting with a barista, and all of a sudden I got nauseous and put my hands on the table,” Marco said. “And I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m going to throw up or pass out or something.’ Well, next thing I know I’m down.

She was taken to hospital, where doctors discovered that she not only had a seizure but also a brain tumor.

“I didn’t need emergency surgery immediately, which was great because I was able to shop around afterwards and that’s how I found Henry Ford,” Marco said.

She met neuro-oncologist Dr. Jim Snyder.

“We are a nationally recognized brain tumor center and have been for many years and one of the largest brain tumor tissue banks in the country,” Snyder said.

He said brain tumors were rare and not all of them were cancerous. Snyder also said there were no specific symptoms associated with brain tumors.

“Most people present with something like a stroke, so be vigilant around stroke awareness,” Marco said.

Now Marco is stable, thriving, seeing her specialists every few months, and doing everything she can to raise awareness.

“I want to raise money for patients, and research and coffee is the best way to do that,” Marco said.

She launched Beans 4 Brains in 2020 to benefit Game on Cancer.

“Game on Cancer is a partnership with the Detroit Lions to help patients when they need it,” Snyder said. “When someone is faced with a diagnosis of cancer or a brain tumor or something like that, there’s just a tremendous burden both financially and then on your life.”

Coffee companies and stores in Metro Detroit and even Flint are participating throughout the month.

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Participating stores can be found below:

Sabbath Roasters

Location: 24 E. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson, MI 48017

Gift Type: Ritual House Blend Coffee Beans. Throughout May, they will donate $5 for every Ritual House bag sold. Possibility to buy in store or order online.

Link: https://sabbathcoffeeroasters.com/products/ritual-house-blend

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Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters

Pitches:

FERNDALE:

927 Hilton Road, Ferndale, MI 48220

ROYAL OAK:

115 S. Main St., Royal Oak, MI 48067

Phone: (248) 307-7161

ROCHESTER:

336 S. Main St., Rochester MI 48307

Telephone: (248) 453-5239

DETROIT:

1220 Griswold St., Detroit MI 48226

Telephone: (313) 338-3515

Donation type (all locations): 10% of each sale of Rwanda Ejo Heza sold in the month of May. Can order at any of their locations or order online.

Link: https://www.docr.coffee/rwanda-ejo-heza

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Rootless Coffee Co.

Phone: (810) 221-3322

Locations: ** online order only

Donation type: $6 for each bag of Beans 4 Brains sold in May.

Link: https://rootlesscoffee.com/collections/partners/products/beans4brains

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Cafes using store-made coffee drinks to support the cause:

Kekoa Brew Co.

Location: 3351 Third St., Wyandotte, MI 48192

Donation Type: A portion of ALL banana drink sales during the month of May will be donated to Beans 4 Brains by GOC.

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Coffee

Location:

22 S. Main St., Clawson, MI 48017

Type of donation: Half of each delicious Italian Affogato will be donated to Beans 4 Brains by GOC. An affogato is an espresso and an ice cream!