April 17, 2026

Why I Walk to End Bladder Cancer

Danny Gereg was diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in 2023 and had a three-year course of BCG therapy. Getting involved in a bladder cancer Walk provided hope, healing and community.

My Diagnosis: The Moment Everything Changed

When I got bladder cancer, it was a huge wake-up call.

The Hidden Battle: Depression and Isolation After Diagnosis

I really had no idea what I would need from my community. I was lost in this huge void and I just did not know what to do. I was extremely depressed and anxious about my condition. The depression and that shock of cancer, it just made me not want to do anything.

When I Wasn’t Ready for Help

So my wife had signed me up for a BCAN Walk to End Bladder Cancer. Some days when I’d lay in bed, I’d remember her coming in and saying, “Hey, that Walk is so many months away,” or, “Hey, you remember that walk? You want to go to the BCAN website?” And I just wasn’t interested in it at all.

The Turning Point: Showing Up to the Walk to End Bladder Cancer

Luckily when I finally came to the precipice of my health journey, I knew that I was going to survive. I had a really good chance, anyway. My surgery was over and I was well into my treatment and everything seemed to be going well.

I found myself at a Walk to End Bladder Cancer in Columbus, Ohio. And that’s where my community opened up with me and showed me that there’s something else to help drive the energy and to keep me surviving and thriving through this. I just could not have done this without that BCAN community that I met on that day.

Every time I speak to a volunteer or an employee from BCAN or anyone, it deepens my relationship and there’s just so much more to do in our community through our flagship organization.

Finding Strength in a Cancer Support Community

I got lucky enough to meet several different people, but one guy showed up and he just looked so lost and I went up to him and I said, “What’s going on?” Well, he had just found out the day before [that he had bladder cancer], he had just gotten that CT scan and he said, “My brother brought me here and I’m here.” And I said, “Sir, you are in the best place you could ever have been dropped in. This place saved my life, man.” So we talked to this day. I’ve got his number right up there on my wall.

Of course, you can go to bcan.org and look up all the information that they have on there and all those wonderful programs that they were talking about. Definitely get involved in BCAN.

Get matched with a bladder cancer survivor.

Why I Keep Walking

It becomes very symbolic, especially for me and my wife. This year, 2026, will be our third year. So we started off really early. We get into the volunteer aspect very deeply. We’re there right at the beginning when everybody else is there, willing to lend a hand. We’ll find all these people and make all these friends and connect all of these different stories together and then kind of go do our Walk as a big family. It’s just the most amazing day and we just enjoy the heck out of it.

How to Get Involved in a Bladder Cancer Walk

• Visit BCAN.org and find your closest Walk city.
• Participate in a virtual Walk.
• Volunteer at a Walk.

What If You Can’t Participate in a Walk?

There’s a lot of amazing ways to participate with BCAN. If you can’t do anything, just try to help somebody, a caregiver, bladder cancer patient, or caregiver in some way. That gives them a little tiny bit of power to just move on.

Yeah, just get out to these Walks. Do anything you can at any capacity you can, whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or a family, distant family, just to give that support because BCAN means so much to our community. All these programs that they make possible for us, I utilize them and many, many people in our community use them to get by day by day. BCAN is always there and they always have a resource that’s going to help you out. So get to the Walk, support the Walk, and it will save your life if you let it.

Donate to support a walk participant or team.

Promote Bladder Cancer Awareness Month on social media.

Resources
Read Danny Gereg’s patient story.
Listen to a podcast with Danny and fellow survivors Sandy Weicher and Rick Bangs.

FAQs
What is a Walk to End Bladder Cancer?
• It is a community event that raises awareness and funds for bladder cancer research and support programs.
How does a cancer fundraising walk help patients?
• It provides emotional support, as well as funds that enable BCAN to help even more patients and families.
Can caregivers participate in Walks to End Bladder Cancer?
• Yes, caregivers are a vital part of the community and often attend alongside patients.
What if I’m too sick to attend a Walk?
• You can still support virtually through donations, advocacy, or connecting with others.
Are bladder cancer walks only for survivors?
• No, they are open to patients, families, caregivers, and supporters.