The Brain Science Foundation is pleased to announce that the first Frontrunners event took place July 28th and 29th in Cooperstown, NY. Mrs. Kathy Simons, her husband Don and their sons Mike and Jeff organized an effort to raise funds and awareness for the Brain
 |
| Kathy Simons and her family sold water and snacks, raising $600 for the Brain Science Foundation. |
Science Foundation by optimizing the large crowds of tourists who were attending the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for Cal Ripken Jr. & Tony Gwynn . During this busy weekend, 75,000 people were expected to visit the Village of Cooperstown. Kathy hoped that water and snacks would be in high demand! She convinced friends from the ambulance corp. to let her use their driveway in town to sell bottles of water, candy, snacks and rain gear. Her neighbor Dede applied for the required permit and took her shopping for 17 cases of water and umbrellas. Additional help was enlisted from Kathy’s sons Mike and Jeff and daughter Sarah to try and predict what snacks might be a big seller. The goal was to maximize the proceeds going to the Brain Science Foundation. For Kathy and friends, the theme of the day was to “Hit a Homerun for Brain Tumor Research!” Kathy’s team efforts did just that – in two days they raised $600 for the Brain Science Foundation.
As a meningioma survivor, Kathy understands all too well the urgency underlying the need for continued research on meningioma. In 2004, Kathy was diagnosed with right orbital sphenoid wing meningiomas. Over the past three years she has had surgery to remove part of the tumors, followed by 28 sessions of stereo tactic radiation treatments, and she continues to face on-going pain management treatment to combat the effects of these tumors. She and her husband drive 4 1/2 hours to Boston every 2 months (or more often as needed). Each day, Kathy lives with the impact meningiomas have had on her life. She can no longer drive or teach special education; her family is trying to accept the changes the tumor has caused. On a positive note, since she has been ill her youngest son has just completed paramedic training and her oldest son, Mike, hopes to be headed off to medical school. Mike has taken 2 semesters off from Binghamton University and completed online classes so he could take care of his mother after her crainiotmy. They are all very active with the Cooperstown Volunteer Ambulance squad.
Nonetheless, Kathy is still a teacher at heart and strongly believes in the importance of working to improve awareness about these tumors while helping others who have had similar experiences. In addition to raising funds, Kathy was able to educate the hundreds of people who stopped by her stand to read her materials and learn more about meningiomas and the Brain Science Foundation. One unexpected outcome of her efforts was the large number of people who offered up personal stories about their own experiences with brain tumors. Kathy was moved by this connection between strangers and their shared desire to make brain tumor research a priority. Currently, there is no support group in this area, but during this event there was some mutual support and encouragement! She also talked to several people about her intrathecal pump that Dr. Ross from B&W implanted this past October for pain management. This is a new way to help combat the pain and limit the amount of oral medication.
The Brain Science Foundation is grateful to Kathy Simons and her husband Don. As Brain Science Foundation Frontrunners, they are blazing a trail to support the research surrounding meningioma and other primary brain tumors as well as spreading the word about meningioma and the seriousness of these tumors. Thank you to Kathy and Don for being Brain Science Foundation “All Stars”! If anyone is in the upstate NY area and would like to gather for support, please e-mail Kathy at
kbsimons@yahoo.com
