SF Hip-Hop Benefit For Girl With Rare Cancer On Hold
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) -- A Bay Area rapper is hoping his music can help a 2-year-old girl fighting a rare form of cancer. But a show planned to raise money for the toddler will not go on.
Six months ago, Juliana Pena of South San Francisco was an active and normal toddler. Recently, doctors' diagnosed Juliana with stage 3 neuroblastoma, a cancer that is rare but deadly.
So far, Pena had six rounds of chemotherapy and two abdominal surgeries. Juliana's father Jesus and his wife both stay home from work to give her around-the-clock care. It has become financially draining.
Jesus' childhood friend and local hip-hop artist Co-Blooded the Great, stepped in to help. He offered to donate some proceeds from a special concert with 15 Bay Area artists, including famed performer Too Short. But at the last moment, the venue Space 550 in San Francisco, pulled out.
Co-Blooded the Great said he gave the manager of Space 550 a $4,000 deposit and has yet to receive his money back.
A statement by the club said the venue is closed for construction won't be able to host any events in the near future. That includes September 2nd, when the fundraiser was supposed to take place.
The venue's lawyer told CBS 5 the night manager pocketed the deposits and did not notify the owners of the club. He said the manager is now being investigated by San Francisco Police.
For now, the show's organizers are seeking a new venue for the benefit concert.
As for Juliana, doctors say she had no signs of any active cancer cells in her last visit. But doctors say there is a 70 to 80 percent chance that the cancer will reoccur.
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