For the second year, The Paxton Andrews Foundation is contributing a portion of the proceeds from PaxFest to a foundation that is truly near and dear to our hearts, The Pablove Foundation.
The mission of The Pablove Foundation is to fund pediatric cancer research and advances in treatment, educate and empower cancer families, and improve the quality of life for children living with cancer through hospital play, music and arts programs.
“The Pablove Foundation is named after Pablo Thrailkill Castelaz, the son of Jo Ann Thrailkill and Jeff Castelaz and the little brother of Grady Gallagher. Pablo was six years old when he lost his valiant yearlong battle with bilateral Wilms Tumor, a rare form of childhood cancer. Imbued with his spirit and inspired by his strength, Pablove is dedicated to the daily, global fight against childhood cancer and the suffering that comes in its wake. We fight on in order to amplify one simple message: kids get cancer too.”
One of Pablove’s major annual fundraising events is an incredible cross country ride, Pablove Across America.
The Pablove Across America peloton endures rain, wind, traffic and hills as they spread awareness of childhood cancer across the country. But even the hardest ride can’t compare to the hardship pediatric cancer kids and their families go through every day. Last year, the team dedicated their evening rest hours to our sweet baby Paxton. You can see Jeff Castelez’ dedication on YouTube here.
In addition to Pablove Across America, The Pablove Foundation has holds rides for kids called Pedaling for Pablove. One of things that is so special about this ride is it gives kids the opportunity to help other kids. Often kids feel helpless to do anything when it comes to something so big and so scary as cancer. Giving them a chance to help, and teaching them what it feels like to be of service to others, is as much a gift to them as it is to the foundation.
One of the more recent programs, their signature program, is called Shutterbugs.
“Pablove Shutterbugs teaches children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography. Our photography program launched with our eight-week session in January 2011 with pediatric cancer patients from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The same year we added continuing education to our program and expanded to New York City. In 2012 we introduced workshops and summer camps and are expanding to other cities throughout the United States in 2013.”
More than anything, The Pablove Foundation is all heart. Their support and assistance in navigating our way to building a strong foundation and allowing us to begin to fulfill our mission in our first year, which was much faster than we had expected. Whenever we have needed help, the amazing folks at Pablove have always been there for us. We believe in Pablove. We believe that our organizations are stronger for having the alliance we have forged. We believe we will make a difference.
Too Much Metal Fred–bringing the rad to PaxFest 2012 in Pablove gear!
We Pablove Fred.[/caption]
Please go check out all the things that Pablove has going on at pablove.org, and … Pablove one another.
