In May of 2008, Hicksville resident Louie Mavroudis watched his father dance at his wedding. Eight months later, his father Gregory Mavroudis lost his fight to lung cancer. Following this devastating loss, Louie knew that he needed to do something to honor the memory of his father. He also wanted to help find a cure so that other people would not have to suffer the way he and his family had.
When he heard that his friend Michael Lamothe was running the NYC marathon with Fred’s Team, which raises money for Pediatric Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Louie was determined to do whatever he could to help his friend raise money for this great cause.
“Metal for a Cause” was founded by Mavroudis to unite Metal bands and other performers for a five-hour fundraising concert to help raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research. Mavroudis’s own Ozzy Osborne tribute band Off The Railz will headline and a variety of other bands/ performers, including comedian Ray Guttierez and solo artist Mark “ME” Edwards, all rallied behind this cause to volunteer their time and talent. Great items will be raffled off, which were generously donated by Roadrunner Records, The Devil’s Rose Tattoos and All Music Inc. located in Plainview. All proceeds raised will be donated to Fred’s Team.
Mavroudis said, “I got to spend the first 28 years of my life with my dad. He got to see me graduate from college and get married. I think every parent deserves to see their children experience these wonderful joys of life, and it’s a shame when a lot of them have to lay their children to rest.
“This event is bigger than me, and bigger than everyone involved. Cancer is something that affects everyone. My goal is to raise awareness and make a difference for families out there, because I don’t think there’s anything more important than family. That’s my muse, and that’s why I do this. Mike’s my best friend ever, and this event is a testimony to my friendship to him.”
Lamothe, who will be running the NYC Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 7, worked with Mavroudis to get this show off the ground and make this fundraising concert a reality. In addition to this show, he also is undergoing intensive training to prepare himself for the 26-mile run with Fred’s Team.
Lamothe said, “Training for and running a marathon is one of the toughest physical challenges you can put your body through. It can sometimes make you question if you can do this. What gets me through the toughest parts of training is remembering why I’m doing this in the first place. When a child has cancer, it affects more than the child. It affects their whole family, their friends, and even their family’s friends. That’s why I run. I run to give hope to those children, their family, their friends and loved ones.”
Please come out and show your support on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 4 to 9 p.m. at The Dublin Pub (2002 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park). Tickets cost $10 for the entire event. Must be 21 or over to enter, please bring ID. If you would like to support Michael Lamothe as he runs the NYC Marathon on Nov. 7 to raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research, or would like to learn more about Fred’s Team, please log onto www.fredsteam.org.
