My family and I have been part of the New York Brain Tumor Walk since the annual event started in 2014. Each year, we came together as Team Cal's Crusaders to honor of the memory of my father, Cal Kitay who passed away from a glioblastoma, just three days shy of his 67th birthday.

When my father was diagnosed with his brain tumor, his life was never the same again. Side effects from his surgery left a weakness in the right side of his body where he had issues doing simple tasks such as writing, tying his shoes, and he needed a walker to help get around. His brain tumor returned a year later in an inoperable part of the brain because his treatments had to cease due to his body wouldn't accept the chemotherapy drug. In addition to my father's battle with his glioblastoma , the events of 2020 made it even more evident why even more research is needed to fight this horrible disease. I personally saw the difference in the side effects and the drug and treatment options when it comes to other cancers in comparison to what was available to my father during his 13 month battle with brain cancer.

If my father was still around he would have been an essential worker, working in a hospital during this pandemic. Brain tumors don't discriminate based on gender, race, religion, age, and there is no preventive action one can do to avoid these brain tumors.

This is why Cal's Crusaders has participated in the New York Brain Tumor Walk since its inception in 2014 and we look forward to coming together with the brain tumor community in 2024 for the New York Brain Tumor Walk at Jones Beach on September 15th.