Pablo’s Story
Pablo Thrailkill Castelaz
June 21, 2003 — June 27, 2009
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.
A young, growing foundation, Pablove has begun to make its mark. Our first childhood cancer research grants in 2011 totaled $150,000 in funding for innovative research projects. In 2010, The Pablove Foundation held a Wilms Tumor Symposium for patient families and medical professionals and hosted a Childhood Cancer Survivorship Symposium in 2011. The Pablove Shutterbugs program teaches children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography and we have contributed to child life programs at children’s hospitals across the country.
Pablove Across America, our signature long-distance bike ride, raises awareness of childhood cancer in cities nationwide every October. Along the way, riders visit local children’s hospitals and communities participate in fundraising and awareness events. Our 2011 ride traveled from Milwaukee to New Orleans. In 2010, cyclists rode over 1,400 miles from Seattle to Los Angeles. The Pablove peloton joins our Team Pablove runners, triathletes, mountain bikers and others committed to using healthy living and athletic activity as a means to fight childhood cancer with The Pablove Foundation. Our Pedaling for Pablove kids’ bike rides, True Pablove Valentine’s Family Celebration, and fundraisers like golf tournaments, benefit concerts, and unique grassroots efforts round out The Pablove Foundation’s annual events.
Your support of The Pablove Foundation helps us help kids with cancer.