A Firm Handshake

What would you do if you were only given a few months to live? Travel the world? Spend it with family? Go skydiving?

Zach Sobriech, age 17, turned to music to get him through his time left on earth. When Zach was only 14 years old he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is a cancerous bone tumor that usually develops during a time of rapid growth that occurs in adolescence, as a teenager matures into an adult. In Zach’s case, the discovery of his diagnosis came when he experienced pain in his left hip. When the doctors operated on him they made the tragic discovery. After multiple surgeries, strenuous physical therapy sessions and months of chemotherapy, Zach lost his battle with cancer when it spread to his lungs. Doctors only give him a few months to live.

Zach is very courageous and optimistic by holding his head up high and a smile on his face. Last year Zach and close friend Sammy Brown created an album titled “A Firm Handshake.” They performed their music in front of a live audience in order to raise money for Zach’s cause.

The ADS Group was inspired by Zach’s story and wanted to support his love for music. By donating discs with his music on it and implementing the artwork onto the sleeve, Zach was able to generate profit from his album’s sales to help fund his condition.

This year they are back at it again! The concert is to be held at the Varsity Theatre featuring Vicci Martinez, Zach Sobiech, Sammy Brown, and Reed Redmond. Doors open at 6:00pm. Tickets are available at ticketfly.com or varsitytheatre.org. All proceeds go to the Zach Sobiech Fund.

Zach wrote the song below titled “Clouds,” as a goodbye to friends and family.

Well I fell down, down, down
Into this dark and lonely hole
There was no one there to care about me anymore
And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge
You were sitting there holding a rope.
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now.
When I get back on land
Well I'll never get my chance
Be ready to live and it'll be ripped right out of my hands
Maybe someday we'll take a little ride
We'll go up, up, up and everything will be just fine.
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear.
It won't be long now, it won't be long now
If only I had a little bit more time
If only I had a little bit more time with you.
We could go up, up, up
And take that little ride
And sit there holding hands
And everything would be just right
And maybe someday I'll see you again
We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end.
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now.