A Southern California-based nonprofit organization will host a cycling fundraiser at a San Marcos sports bar this weekend to raise money for programs that support children living with cancer diagnoses.
In the last leg of the 14th annual Pablove Across America fundraiser, the Pablove Foundation will hold a cycling event Saturday, starting and ending at Draft Republic at 255 Redel Road in San Marcos. Cyclists can choose to ride either 50 or 100 miles. The event will end with lunch and live music at the sports bar.
The Pablove Foundation is based in Los Angeles. It was founded by the parents of Pablo Castelaz, a boy who died from a rare form of childhood cancer in 2009 at age 6.
Jeff Castelaz — Pablo’s dad who has been a cyclist since he was a kid — said his son loved watching cycling events on television, enthusiastically started riding a bicycle as soon as he was old enough and would ride a trailer bike attached his dad’s.
“What those rides meant to him, as far as I could ever tell, is freedom,” Castelaz said. “He’d be riding on the back of my bike waving at people — he was like the Pope back there waving at people.”
Following Pablo’s death, Castelaz organized his first bike ride across country from Florida to California in honor of his son and to raise awareness of bilateral Wilms’ Tumor, a form of kidney cancer that occurs in both kidneys, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. During Castelaz’s initial fundraiser ride, friends and family donated money to the cause, and the organization was launched.
Today, the nonprofit seeks to bring the arts to children, ages 6 to 18, diagnosed with cancer by teaching them photography skills through the Pablove Shutterbugs program, which is offered both virtually and in person. The Pablove Foundation also raises money for cancer research and offers grants to fund studies, especially for those related to uncommon childhood cancers.
Rider registration for the event costs $125 per person and includes a lunch voucher to be used during the after party. To participate in the event or make a donation, go to pablove.org/granfondo.
