Children and cancer should never be in the same sentence, but unfortunately childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades. According to the American Cancer Society, childhood cancers make up less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year and about 10,380 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children (after accidents). About 1,250 children younger than 15 years old are expected to die from cancer in 2016.
That’s why it’s important to support organizations such as The Pablove Foundation, which was founded by loving parents Jeff Castelaz and Jo Ann Thraikill in May 2007, after their four-year-old son Pablo Castelaz was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms Tumor, a rare form of childhood cancer. After a valiant fight against the disease, Pablo passed away just six days past his sixth birthday on June 27, 2009. Imbued with his spirit and inspired by his strength, The Pablove Foundation is dedicated to the daily, global fight against childhood cancer and the suffering that comes in its wake.
Since 2010, more than $1 million has been raised to support research grants at 16 institutions worldwide. The grants support a range of innovators in childhood cancer research who are investigating unique ways to increase survivorship and decrease complications, enabling kids to live healthy lives after cancer. Additionally, Pablove creates programs to inspire cancer families through education as well as improve the lives of children living with cancer through the arts.
The Pablove Shutterbugs program teaches children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography. The 5 or 8 week mentorship program will allow students to learn various techniques and showcase their work for their annual Pablove Gallery Show.
Upcoming Shutterbugs programs include: the Los Angeles 8 week program (Saturdays, February 27 – April 16, 2016), Alumni Summer Camp (Wednesday, June 15 – Friday, June 17, 2016), the New York 5 week program (Saturdays, April 9 – May 7, 2016), the New Orleans 5 week program (Saturdays, April 16 – May 14, 2016), the San Francisco Bay 5 week program (Saturdays, April 23 – May 21, 2016), and the Austin 5 week program (Saturdays, April 30 – May 28, 2016). Check out the embedded video in this article of the kids in action.
The 8th annual Pablove Across America registration is open to the public now at pablove.org/paa. The bike ride from the Bay Area (SF) to LA and will cover 550 miles as the cyclists traverse the Golden State on Sunday, October 2. The ride funds The Pablove Foundation’s essential programs such as childhood cancer research grants; annual educational symposiums; and Pablove Shutterbugs.
Check out the video of riders here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPLZdfKU1JM
For New York Folks…
The New York Bowling Night (Tuesday, May 10th) registration is now open! The New York Bowling Night –a guaranteed fun time for all attendees-- will take place at the chic and entertaining Bowlmor Lanes in the heart of Times Square. Click here to register to bowl or to support Pablove as an event sponsor.
For Los Angeles Folks…
The 4th Annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Golf Tournament (Friday, May 6th) -with The Pablove Foundation and friends from the music and entertainment industries -- is an 18-hole, four-player scramble held at the beautiful Angeles National Golf Club.
The 2nd Annual Pablove Tennis Classic presented by WME (Sunday, May 15th)- the day of non-stop doubles tennis action and fun, all fighting childhood cancer at Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center.
For more information, visit pablove.org, or Pablove on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
