Three hundred neurosurgeons to participate in Central Park softball tournament

With summer just around the corner, that means the Annual Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament will take place in Central Park for the eighth consecutive year. "The softball tournament provides an opportunity for neurosurgeons to shed their scrubs for a day and enjoy a competitive, fun atmosphere with colleagues, playing softball for a worthy cause that not only means a great deal to neurosurgical practice, but to patients and their families," said Ricardo J. Komotar, MD, founder of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund and the Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament. Endorsed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, this date has been declared "Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament Day" in the City of New York, and is supported by the New York Yankees. For the first time, proceeds of this event will benefit both Columbia University Medical Center's Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund and the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF).

Pediatric brain tumors have surpassed leukemia as the leading cause of cancer death in children. An estimated 4,030 new cases of childhood primary nonmalignant and malignant brain and central nervous system tumors were diagnosed in the US in 2010. Of these cases, more than 70 percent affected children age 15 and younger. Funds from this annual event support crucial neurosurgical research, with the goal of one day improving outcome for thousands of children struggling with pediatric brain tumors and millions of people of all ages battling a host of neurosurgical conditions.

WHO: In addition to Columbia University Medical Center (host), ABC, CBS, ESPN, and leading neurological institutions from all regions across North America will be participating, including:

•Albert Einstein College of Medicine
•Barrow Neurological Institute
•Dartmouth College
•Duke University
•Emory University
•Harvard University
•Memorial Sloan-Kettering/Cornell University
•Mount Sinai School of Medicine
•New York University
•Northwestern University
•Penn State University
•The Johns Hopkins University
•Thomas Jefferson University
•University of Alabama
•University of Colorado
•University of Florida
•University of Miami
•University of Pennsylvania
•University of Pittsburgh
•University of Toronto
•University of Utah

WHAT: Three hundred neurosurgeons from 22 of North America's top medical institutions will suit up in softball uniforms to battle it out in NYC's Central Park on Saturday, June 4 to raise funds for neurosurgical research. The post-tournament reception at Byant Park Grill is sponsored by Brainlab.

WHEN: Saturday, June 4, 2011
9:00 AM - Games begin
3:00 to 7:00 PM - Final four teams face off for championship

WHERE: Central Park, North Meadow (Enter between 97th to 102nd St. - on the east or west-side of the park)