The phone rings and it’s one of your closest friends. You sense that something is not right. You ask, “Is everything ok?” It’s a question you have asked hundreds of times. This time she answers, “No, it’s not.”
If you think a brain tumor is something that happens to someone else’s child, think again. In October 2008, a six-year-old boy from our community was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor. While it was a shocking diagnosis for his family and friends, each year over 3,000 children in the US are diagnosed with some form of a brain tumor. Approximately 10% are in the tri-state area. Unfortunately, this child was not the only child diagnosed with a brain tumor in our area over the past few years.
Currently, pediatric brain tumor research is under-funded and the general public remains unaware of the magnitude of the disease. Less than 3% of the National Institute of Health’s budget is targeted at childhood cancer research and a minuscule fraction of these funds is budgeted towards research for pediatric brain tumors. Brain tumors can strike anyone; they do not discriminate based on gender, ethnicity or socio-economic boundaries.
While historically the picture for children battling brain tumors has been bleak, there is good news on the horizon. Research identifying a mutation in certain tumor tissue promises to afford new answers as to how and why pediatric brain tumors occur. We can’t ignore the real need for a treatment/cure breakthrough and the possibility that such a breakthrough can be a reality. Now is the time for us to take action.
Hopefully by now you are asking, “How can I help?”
You can support pediatric brain tumor research while enjoying a day with your family and friends at the 2nd Annual Think Fit For Kids Family Fitness and Fun Festival to Benefit a Children’s Brain Tumor Cure Foundation on Sunday, March 18th from 2-5 pm at Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, NY.
Please join us for family spin, yoga, and/or zumba classes or use Club Fit’s state-of-the art fitness facility. There will also be “Mommy & Me” and games/relays for your kids. We will conclude the afternoon with our Fun Festival in the gym featuring food, fun and music by ESP Entertainment. Our event is sponsored by many of your favorite local restaurants and merchants*.
Everyone can participate, regardless of age or fitness level.
Last year we raised over $156,000 at our inaugural Think Fit For Kids event and this year our objective is to raise at least $300,000. While this may seem ambitious, our goal is aggressive because the need is so great!
Join Us and You Can Make a Difference!
For more information, go to www.thinkfitforkids.org and REGISTER/DONATE TODAY!
Email questions to: Contact@thinkfitforkids.org
*Sponsors include (but are not limited to): Club Fit, World Cup Gymnastics, Quaker Hill Tavern, Ben & Jerry’s of Mt. Kisco, Villarina’s Deli, A&S Fine Foods, Susan Lawrence Gourmet, Rocky’s Deli, Chappaqua Village Market, Gail Patrick’s Cafe, Starlight Dairy, Honest Tea, Nestle, Crystal Rock, Steve Krongard & Jodi Buren Photography, Mt. Kisco Farm, Balloons by Brian, Whispering Pines Florist.
