Family and Friends Host Garage Sale in Memory of Wantagh Man to Benefit the National Brain Tumor Society

Garage Sale to Benefit National Brain Tumor Society

By Amy Beth Kitay

Brain tumors are life changing which is why Long Island Brain Tumor Walk team, Cal’s Crusaders is hosting a garage sale on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 from 9 AM to 5 PM at 37 Wander Lane in Wantagh. All proceeds will benefit the National Brain Tumor Society.

Cal’s Crusaders is a team formed to honor the memory of long time North Wantagh resident, Cal Kitay. For 41 years he and his wife, Barbara lived in North Wantagh where they raised 2 daughters, Amy and Rachel, both graduates of Mac Arthur High School. He worked as a laboratory technologist for over 38 years at what is now known as St. Joseph’s Hospital. Cal played the trumpet for many years and loved to assemble model ships and planes. For those who knew Cal, he was a kind, giving person and his love of animals meant there was always a dog or cat by his side.

Cal was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma in June of 2011. Although the brain tumor was removed, due to allergic reactions with the chemotherapy drug, treatment had to cease and the aggressive tumor returned a year after Cal’s initial diagnosis, this time in an inoperable part of the brain. He passed away a month later; just 3 days shy of his 67^th birthday. Cal’s family and friends came together as Cal’s Crusaders for the inaugural Long Island Brain Tumor Walk in 2014

For years the National Brain Tumor Society has hosted events such as walks, runs, and rides to raise awareness of disease, to raise money for better treatments, and to connect the brain tumor community. 2014 was the first year Long Island hosted its own walk which was a total success. This year the Long Island Brain Tumor Walk will be held September 16^th at Jones Beach.

The National Brain Tumor Society is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the brain tumor community in the United States and is rated as a 4 star charity on the Charity Navigator website. 688,000 people in the US are living with a brain tumor. Although 550,000 are benign, 138,000 are malignant and more than 69,000 others will be diagnosed this year. This is why the National Brain Tumor Society is fiercely committed to finding better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for people living with a brain tumor today and anyone who will be diagnosed tomorrow. This means effecting change in the system at all levels.

For more information about the National Brain Tumor Society, the Long Island Brain Tumor Walk, and team Cal’s Crusaders, please visit http://events.braintumor.org/long-island-brain-tumor-walk/.