Milwaukee, WI (January 31, 2011) – Building on the inspirational success of their previous events that have raised over $1 million in the fight against childhood cancers, The Pablove Foundation has announced details of its third annual Pablove Across America cross-country bike ride. Launching Thursday, October 6 in Milwaukee, the 2011 Pablove Across America will cover more than 1,400 miles as the peloton cycles for three weeks through the Midwest, eventually arriving in New Orleans on Thursday, October 27 for a Halloween weekend conclusion. All proceeds from the ride and its related events will directly benefit Pablove’s mission 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.
Details of the 2011 Pablove Across America were announced live on stage at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee Saturday, January 29 by Jeff Castelaz, CEO and Co-Founder of both The Pablove Foundation and indie label Dangerbird Records. The two organizations presented a special benefit concert last Saturday that featured a rare, acoustic headlining set from Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger of Dangerbird’s own Silversun Pickups, along with performances from their labelmates Fitz & The Tantrums and Maritime, plus many local acts from the Milwaukee scene.
Registration for Pablove Across America 2011 is open to the public now at http://pablove.org/pablove-across-america/register/. Further details on the ride-including fundraising requirements, estimated mileage and a tentative day-by-day schedule-can be found at http://pablove.org/pablove-across-america/. PAA riders receive professional treatment and support on the ride, while taking part in hospital visits, benefit concerts and other events in Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville and New Orleans. One-day ride options in major cities -including ride opportunities for kids- will also be available, with details to be announced this spring.
For more information, visit www.pablove.org/press, or Pablove on Facebook and Twitter.
BACKGROUND ON THE PABLOVE FOUNDATION & PABLOVE ACROSS AMERICA:
The Pablove Foundation was founded in May 2008 by Castelaz and his wife Jo Ann Thrailkill (a New Orleans native) 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.
In fall 2009, Castelaz embarked on the inaugural PAA that covered 3,100 miles from St. Augustine, Florida to Los Angeles, and included the participation of cycling champion Lance Armstrong. These experiences led to Castelaz being featured as Person of the Week on ABC Nightly News. The second PAA ride was held in fall of 2010, with Castelaz leading a group of cyclists over 1,425 miles from Seattle to Los Angeles and donating to four children’s hospitals along the way in Washington, Oregon, and California. To date, the first and second Pablove Across America rides have raised a combined total of $1.1 million.
The Pablove Foundation’s scientific advisory committee is comprised of the brightest minds in the pediatric cancer field, including doctors and researchers from Harvard, Duke, University of Michigan, USC, City of Hope and others. The foundation recently disclosed details of two $50,000 research grants that The Pablove Foundation will award for childhood cancer research in 2011.
Pablove headquarters is buzzing with activity in the New Year, as they accept applications for their first childhood cancer research grants, put the finishing touches on their True Pablove Valentine’s Family Celebration, and plan for next fall’s Childhood Cancer Survivorship Symposium. The organization’s new Pablove Shutterbugs program recently introduced 17 pediatric cancer patients to photography tutors, kick-starting an eight-week series of sessions in which children work one-on-one with volunteers to develop their creative voice through the art of photography.
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