ColorBlast: Celebrating Life and Community 

Charul Kothari 

Charul remembers her mom, Pushpa, as energetic, empathetic, and very progressive for her time, one of very few women in her community in India to have a master’s degree when she was young. “My mom was the pillar of strength in her community, and the driving force in our family,” Charul shared. 

During the summer of 2016, Pushpa visited Charul and her family in Westchester County, NY. They traveled to Yellowstone National Park, where Pushpa enjoyed invigorating daily hikes and was feeling healthy. At the time, she mentioned a loss of appetite, but believed it was because she had recently overhauled her diet, exercise regimen, and lifestyle to become healthier and make her diabetes more manageable. She returned to India in the fall of 2016 but suffered from jet lag for longer than usual, followed by some gastrointestinal issues. By October, her eyes became jaundiced, and Charul’s uncle, a doctor in India, insisted she go to the hospital immediately.  

Despite having no family history of pancreatic cancer, Pushpa was diagnosed with stage 2 of the disease, a diagnosis that both shocked and shattered her loving family. Pushpa and her family were devastated that her tumor was inoperable due to its specific location and position. She had to undergo chemotherapy first, with the goal of having Whipple surgery after her tumor shrank. 

Charul took a leave of absence from work to be her mother’s caregiver along with her dad and sister in India. She was hospitalized in March 2017, following several months of grueling chemotherapy treatment. Doctors told Charul and her dad to take Pushpa home to start palliative care, as the chemotherapy wasn’t working, and surgery was still not an option. They were heartbroken and refused to tell Pushpa what the doctor proposed; Pushpa had such a determined will to live and was eager to try anything she could to make herself strong enough to continue with chemotherapy. Charul researched and reached out to leading cancer treatment centers in the United States but was ultimately unsuccessful in getting hospitals in the United States to review her mother’s pathology report and scans and provide a second opinion. 

Pushpa, 71, passed away on May 20, 2017, only seven months after her diagnosis. Her loss left a huge, overwhelming void in the lives of her family, friends, and community. “The pain and grief of losing my mother will never fade away,” Charul shared. “She was a fighter in life and inspired my sister and I to always do our best. Because of her, I work so much harder, and her energy motivates me and keeps me going.” 

To honor Pushpa’s life, in 2018 Charul and her team created ColorBlast, a vibrant event featuring food, colors, music, dance, games, Dhol Beats, and a raffle, in her community of Rye Brook, New York. The goal of ColorBlast (named by Charul’s daughter) is to celebrate life and bring the community together, like Pushpa had always done, while keeping Pushpa’s memory alive. Charul enjoys watching all age groups, including local student volunteers like Charul’s children and their friends, unite for the event. “We invite our community to join us for an unforgettable spring day of joy, unity, and impact, because every splash of color brings us closer to a cure!” 

From the ColorBlast events held since 2018, Charul and the organizing committee have raised nearly $28,000. May 3, 2025, will mark the fifth ColorBlast event, and it has grown to more than 300 attendees, 50 volunteers, and a dedicated organizing committee. 

This will be the second year where the money raised at ColorBlast will benefit the Lustgarten Foundation. “I believe Lustgarten’s and ColorBlast’s goals and objectives align for detecting pancreatic cancer early so more patients can become survivors. I’m so grateful for the participation of the community, and their donations that will support increased awareness of pancreatic cancer,” Charul affirmed. “Early detection is key to survival, and we need to fund research to find a breakthrough. While we couldn’t save my mom, she would be honored that her legacy will save others.” 

Each burst of color, each laugh shared, each step taken at ColorBlast is more than a celebration; it’s a tribute to a woman who believed in education, strength, community, and joy. Pushpa’s legacy lives on not just in the hearts of those who knew her, but in every effort to make sure others have a chance to fight and survive. 

“This is for her,” Charul said softly. “And for every family who still has hope.”