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KIDS HONOR GRANDFATHER BY RAISING MONEY FOR RESEARCH
Sammy and Jacob Landa thought their grandfather, Dr. Lloyd Landa, deserved a special gift for his 75th birthday, so they went to work to raise money. Jacob, age 10, spent a few afternoons washing cars with friends; Sammy, age 8, performed Irish step dancing for donations on a busy street corner in the family’s hometown of Alexandria, Va. Together they raised $265.21, but instead of spending the money on a store-bought gift, the boys gave the money to the Mitchell C. Benson Cancer Research Fund in honor of their grandfather, a patient of Mitchell Benson, MD, the George F. Cahill Professor of Urology and chairman, Department of Urology. The boys’ parents provided matching funds to bring the donation to $532.42. “Jacob and Sammy are aware that their grandfather is a cancer survivor and that he is one of the lucky ones,” Debbie Landa, the boys’ mother, says. “Unfortunately, they know some people who weren’t as lucky and they wanted to raise money to help change that.” Dr. Benson says he has received larger gifts but none more special or moving than this one. "I have known Dr. Landa for many years and it is no surprise that he has such wonderful and thoughtful children and grandchildren," he says.

KIDS HONOR GRANDFATHER KIDS HONOR GRANDFATHER

PLAYING TO WIN AGAINST PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMORS
Neurosurgeons from 16 of the nation’s top medical institutions, including four in New York City, battled it out June 7 in Central Park at the Fifth Annual Neurosurgery Softball Tournament to Benefit Pediatric Brain Tumor Research. All funds raised go toward pediatric brain tumor research at Columbia. About $150,000 has been raised since the inception of the games. Harvard won this year’s tournament.
   For the fifth consecutive year, George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees have sponsored the tournament. This year, NY Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and ESPN anchor Jeremy Schaap threw out the first pitches.
   Ricardo Komotar, MD, a neurosurgery resident at Columbia, founded the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund and tournament in 2004 to raise awareness about childhood brain cancers and to increase funds for research. Pediatric brain tumors continue to surpass leukemia as the leading case of cancer death in children. More than 3,000 new cases of childhood primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed this year, with more than 75 percent occurring in children under age 15.

AGAINST PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMORS

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