Zach Sobiech: Celebrities Serenade Dying Teenager His Farewell Song ‘Clouds’
Zach Sobiech wrote and performed a farewell song to his family called “Clouds,” and now the brave teenager is getting quite the serenade from a slew of celebrities.
The 17-year-old has only weeks left to live after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects about 400 children under the age of 20 per year in the United States.
He decided last year to write a song for his family called “Clouds,” one that quickly started to rack up views on YouTube.
“I needed to get that emotion out and they wanted something they could remember me by,” Zach said of the song.
Now, a slew of celebrities have joined in to pay tribute to Zach and his battle with cancer. The stars sang along to “Clouds” in a new video, which airs on Rainn Wilson’s SoulPancake YouTube channel.
The lineup included Ashley Tisdale, Colbie Caillat, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles, Jenna Fischer, The Lumineers, Rachel Bilson, Ed Helms, Phillip Phillips, and others.
The star-studded song comes as Zach’s prognosis grows more dim. Last May, doctors had given him one year to live.
“We’re approaching that year mark,” Zach Sobiech told People in March. “It’s scary to think about, but the key is to not feel bad for yourself.”
Zach and his family have been using the immensely personal song to help others afflicted by the disease. They started the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund to raise money for cancer research, a major initiative given that Osteosarcoma is considered too rare to merit major funding efforts.
ChildrensCancer.org writes:
“Unfortunately, research for osteosarcoma lags behind other types of cancers such as leukemia in the development of treatments and more targeted therapies. Because osteosarcoma is so rare, more private funding, like funding from Children’s Cancer Research Fund, is needed to push research forward – for Zach, and young people diagnosed after him.”
Here is the Zach Sobiech song “Clouds,” performed by celebrities:
People can donate to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund here. Anyone who makes a $20 donation will receive Zach Sobiech’s CD, which includes the song “Clouds.”
