SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. Yet research for pediatric cancers remains underfunded. One Bay Area family knows all too well the pain of loss and the battle for change. Mila n Mehta and his wife, Manisha, lost their eldest son, Ronil, to an aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer called DIPG in 2018. French bulldog saved couple during NorCal bear attack, survivor says In the wake of that trauma, the parents and their younger son Sahil, became deeply involved in advocacy. In 2024, Sahil developed AB 703 with Assemblymember Alex Lee to push for a pediatric cancer option on the state tax return. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law in 2025, which allowed California taxpayers to donate directly to pediatric cancer research on their state income tax return. Most recently, Milan and Manisha launched the Brave Ronil Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding pediatric brain cancer research, supporting affected families, and raising awareness. Since Ronil's passing, the family's childhood cancer work has helped fund nine pediatric brain cancer research projects totaling more than $450,000 and supported more than 50 families. On December 12, 2026, the family will be hosting their first annual fundraising gala at the Rotunda at San Jose City Hall. Milan and Sahil joined us on the KRON 4 morning show to share their story (watch in the video player above). ...read more read less