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Sea Wolf in concert | Photo by Koga/LAist
It was just a few months ago when 6-year old Pablo Castelaz lost his battle with cancer, after treatment at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. 13 months before that, he was diagnosed, almost seemingly out of nowhere showing no warning signs prior, with bilateral Wilms’ Tumor, a rare form of children’s cancer.
There's nothing fun about being in the hospital, especially as a kid. Pablo loved the the fourth floor--yes, the whole floor--where it was filled with children, games, books, art projects, entertainers (he met Lance Armstrong there). It all provides a fun getaway from chemo treatments and the such. This year the Pablove Foundation, named by his parents in memory of Pablo, is sponsoring the evening and weekend hours at the hospital's play room.
A few miles down the street in Silver Lake is Dangerbird Records, which was co-founded by Pablo's father, Jeff Castelaz. For him and his wife, Jo Ann Thrailkill, Pablo taught them that kids get cancer, too. For them, that message is a mission.
Pablo
On October 10 in St. Augustine, Florida, Castelaz launched a 3,100-mile bicycle ride to Pablo's gravesite in Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Memorial park this Saturday. The cross-country jaunt is meant to create awareness and raise funds for children's cancer treatment. "Pablove Across America is about standing up, hammering the pedals, speaking out - and FIGHTING back," explains Castelaz. "We want people to support and spread our message that kids get cancer too. It's not somebody else's problem."After a series of bike ride events across the Los Angeles area on Saturday, there will be large concert-fundraiser at the Avalon. The show is big with Sea Wolf (added to the bill), Band of Horses, Tom Morello, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Shirley Manson, Butch Walker, Tom Grabel (Against Me!), Jarrod Gorbel (the Honorary Title) and Charlotte Martin. And all that is $35 for general admission, all which directly benefits Pablove.
"As the Pablove Foundation community grows, we can make a sizable difference in peoples' lives," said Castelaz.
Previously on LAist: A holiday party at Children's Hospital with Jessica Biel
