Young Advocates Push For Childhood Cancer Research Funding In California
Photo: Sahil Mehta, 17, and Rayaan Kolte, 12.
India-West Staff Reporter
SACRAMENTO, CA – After losing their brothers to a rare brain cancer, Sahil Mehta, 17, and Rayaan Kolte, 12, are leading efforts to boost childhood cancer research in California. The two joined more than 150 advocates at the state Capitol for Cancer Action Day, urging support for Assembly Bill 703.
The bill would allow Californians to donate a portion of their state tax refund to childhood cancer research.
“I lost my brother Ronil to DIPG, a brain cancer with no cure and only palliative options,” said Mehta, who helped draft the bill as an ACS CAN legislative ambassador. “AB 703 honors his wish to support research by giving others a simple way to contribute.”
Despite being the leading cause of disease-related death in children, pediatric cancer receives less than 8% of federal cancer research funding. Limited private investment also slows progress due to the small number of cases.
“DIPG treatment hasn’t changed since the 1960s,” said Kolte, whose brother Neev died at age six. “We need to ask: how much longer must families wait for hope?”
Mehta and Kolte co-founded the Neev Kolte & Brave Ronil Foundation to support affected families and promote research, advocacy, and care access. The foundation backs innovative studies, partners with service providers, and works to raise awareness statewide.
