Target Cancer: Rare Tracks to Cure Rare Cancer

Even charities are not above the fray of popularity. At the age of 38, Paul Poth, a Boston-based attorney and unrelenting music fan, was diagnosed with hepatobiliary cancer. (He had never heard of it either.) This particular form of cancer was so rare, that at the time no specific course of treatment existed. After witnessing the limited resources available to his doctors, and treatment available to him, Paul (to right with his family) founded TargetCancer in April 2009.

Unfortunately, Paul's idea did not come in time to save his own life. After a nearly two year long battle, he passed away in August 2009. But his legacy and passion for music lives on through the program he set in motion.

The Right Track: Tunes to TargetCancer launched on Feb. 3, 2010. The idea: rare music to cure rare cancer. Genius. The series features rare and previously unreleased tracks from the likes of Weezer, Ween, The Donnas, Cowboy Junkies, Dean and Britta, Linda Thompson and Buffalo Tom.

Artist are more than willing to lend their music to a good cause. "We jumped at the chance to give an exclusive track for TargetCancer charity," said Weezer. "We believe everyone should stand together in the hopes that we someday might find a cure." The Donnas see this as more than just fund raising, but an opportunity to unite. "Contributing one of our unreleased songs is a good way for us to combine raising awareness about a cause that matters to us, and sharing new music with our fans and new people too."

Kristen Palma, TargetCancer's President and Director says, "Not one of us will escape being touched by cancer in some way. We are so grateful to all these amazing artists for understanding this, for sharing their talents and for joining with TargetCancer as we work toward finding a cure." Palma was also married to Paul.

TargetCancer supports research efforts for rare, underfunded cancers. Some of these include hepatobiliary (bile duct) cancer, which Paul had, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, certain brain tumors, certain sarcomas and many others. And, while these forms of cancer are rare, their impact on individuals and families is as devastating as the more well-known forms of the disease.

In addition to the download series, The Right Track will also sponsor concerts and events, of which 100 percent of proceeds will go directly to the fund. "We plan to release new songs or music-related items for auction on a monthly basis. March will include more song releases, and I believe that April will begin showcasing auction items," said Palma.

So how do you get these rare pay-what-you-like tracks you ask? Simply visit RightTrackTunes and let the downloading begin. And with a minimum price tag of $.99, it's easy to buy more than one. Pay as much as you can, knowing that 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to research funding. And, you're not just getting these rare finds a bit ahead of the curve, TargetCancer has exclusive rights up to two years. It's literally a rockin' win-win deal.

Photos courtesy TargetCancer