The 14 annual Brain Tumor Walk was held at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park on Saturday May 3. The 5k walk, which is approximately 3.1 miles long, was to help raise money for the National Brain Tumor Foundation. The event began at 9 a.m. and the meeting area was soon filled with people. Raffle tickets that were available to people interested in supporting the cause and winning something were sold out within 30 minutes, causing the organizers to get more.This was just the beginning of what would turn out to be a great day for the National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF). By the end of the event around $800,000 was raised through sponsorships of people walking, and raffle ticket purchases.People who participated in the walk were asked to get people to sponsor them, and adults were asked to try and earn $350. Many of the people who participated and walked the three miles were brain tumor survivors, who are grateful for the caregivers and the technology that was provided for them, and they want to help make things better for people now.One of the survivors that participated in the walk was there because he felt like it was something he needed to do.Mike underwent surgery on Sept. 6, 2006 for a type four brain tumor, which is the worst kind. Although the operation was successful, his doctor told him that there is always a chance that he will have to go back in for another operation.He first found out that he had a brain tumor after going to the hospital because he thought he was having a stroke. When tests were ran and doctors determined that was not what was wrong, they did more tests and found “a little something,” according to Mike.He soon had to have a biopsy done, which is when they discovered that he had a stage 3 brain tumor. Mike’s story is similar to many of the people who wore the green shirts the day of the walk, and unfortunately he is not one of few.”About 500 people are diagnosed with a brain tumor everyday,” according to Bob Rybicki, executive director of NBTF.Although people can survive brain tumors it is a long and difficult battle, which can even leave the person in poor condition. Although not all of the survivors that were at the walk were able to actually walk, some came and participated by being encouraging to those walking, and others did the trek in wheel chairs.Allison Jones Thomson, chair of the board of directors for NBTF made an announcement that will greatly affect the brain tumor community. “NBTF and the Brain Tumor Society located in Boston decided to merge,” Thomson said. “By coming together we will provide the largest organization that will fund brain tumor research and provide support services to patients and families.”Although it was a day of fun, it was all for a serious cause, which was why the organizers were so happy to see such a huge turnout.”When I first started with the organization about five years ago we were still holding the event at AT&T Ball Park, and there were about 200 people,” Thomson said.While she said that she was happy to see so many people turn out this year, Thomson noted that she will not rest until there is no longer a need for this event.To make things more interesting people get into teams and compete to get the most amount of money raised. Team Jolly Rogers were all dressed as pirates, and they walked in memory of Roger Bollocki, a man who battled and conquered a brain tumor for ten years. Although he was paralyzed on the right side, he made it a point to be at the Angel Adventure walk that year, which was the events second year, and they walked on Angel Island. His wife Dawn and friends continue to participate every year in the brain tumor walk because in his last month they promised Roger that as long as there was an Angel adventure going on, they would be there.”I am saddened that too many of us know how to pronounce all of these words, words that describe the many types of tumors and ailments that take our loved ones from us,” Bollocki said.KCBS Radio spokesman and CBS channel 5 television personality was a speaker at the event, he relates to some of the people because of a heart problem that he had about six years ago.”I love telling stories,” Shimerman said. “You start talking to the survivors and it’s just layer upon layer upon layer of things they learned and things they’ve done and what they have gone through, and it really is amazing.” Many people don’t think about brain tumors, even though they touch so many people. The survivors of brain tumors were referred to as phenomenal people, because of what they have to endure, and how hard they have to fight to regain portions of the person they once were.”I am feeling very good now, said Mike. ” I’m mostly in good spirits. I can walk and talk, and drive my truck. I don’t really have much to complain about.”