BETABEL ROAD PROJECT
Betabel started as the dream of a young man, Errol McDowell who passed the property every week on his commute to UCSF for cancer treatment. With his love of roadside attractions, Errol proposed cleaning up this field of derelict buildings and wrecked automobiles and turning it into a classic tourist stop on Highway 101 with 100% of the profits going to pediatric cancer research.
Tragically, at the age of eighteen Errol passed away, the victim of a cruel type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. But before he died, his parents Victoria and Rider McDowell bought the land through their charitable trust. Errol got the chance to walk the ground where his dream project might finally be built. The McDowells devoted their lives and their fortunes to a race against time, funding research into pediatric cancer in a desperate attempt to save Errol’s life.
With their son taken from them, they redoubled their efforts to find a cure for pediatric cancer so that no other family would have to face the terrible struggle they went through.
The boy who inspired the Betabel project.
PROJECT NEWS & UPDATES
Threatened trout return to San Benito River
FIRST SIGHTING IN 75 YEARS ATTRIBUTED TO RECLAMATION WORK After 75 years of abuse and countless tons of garbage dumped into it, all it took was 18 months of work from dedicated volunteers to get the San Benito River on the road to recovery. Just a few weeks ago, a [...]
Letter of Support From San Benito County LULAC Council
All for One, One for All June 23, 2020 Attention: Mr. TJ Rider McDowell Mr. McDowell it is with great pleasure and honor that I write this letter of support for the Betabel project and pediatric cancer research your family and foundation are currently undertaking. Eradicating this dreadful disease that affects [...]
The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act Introduced in the Senate
Kids v Cancer Applauds the Introduction of the Must-Pass "Creating Hope Reauthorization Act" to Permanently Reauthorize the Pediatric Voucher Program S.4010 - A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make permanent the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue priority review [...]
Betabel Road Charity Leads to Possible Breakthrough in Pediatric Brain Cancer Treatment
Breaking NewsThe McDowell Charity Trust was notified today by scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys that a research project they helped fund, has led to a major breakthrough in treating the form of brain cancer that killed the McDowell’s son Errol in 2018. The type of cancer, Medulloblastoma, is the most [...]
Letter to the editor: For the love of Errol
When I think of all the fighting and efforts by Preserve Our Rural Communities (PORC) to halt development of our Betabel charity project, I wonder how we got to this place of lawsuits and initiatives and verbal attacks. PORC has been relentlessly trying to convince people to direct their anti-growth [...]
Herman Garcia: An Unlikely Hero
Herman Garcia seems an unlikely hero. His affable demeanor hides a hard-as-nails dedication to the environment and a fierce devotion to our precious local streams and rivers. He is an environmentalist with impeccable credentials and integrity. Garcia's story begins with him assisting law enforcement in breaking down the gangs that [...]
Betabel Road Project: Why We Do What We Do
Two years ago, Betabel was a garbage dump, a wrecking yard filled with tons of junked cars and illegal drug activity. Two years from now, Betabel hopes to be an economic boon to a coronavirus wracked county, with its themed features providing much-needed tax income. The virus has hit [...]
What is the Envisioned Betabel Project?
Well. with a restaurant, produce stand, the visitor center. and a gas station. it might sound like any other pull-off from the freeway then you might see on any American highway. What makes Betabel special is how much the project would integrate with the local community here in San Benito [...]
How to Run a Restaurant
Imagine dishes rich with fresh organic San Benito County vegetables, lots of Gilroy garlic, fried Castroville artichokes, local beef and poultry, desserts made with local fruits and chocolates, all served with wines direct from vineyards in Gilroy and Hollister. The Betabel restaurant is not planning some fast food joint [...]
“Now is the time. No more kids can die…”
Our story was featured on KSBW8, discussing how the Betabel Road Project and Highway 101 in San Benito County is one step closer to reality.
Article by Lauren Seaver
Thank You For Your Support
Unbeknownst to us a group of citizens started a petition on behalf of our charity project.
They are taking a stand and making their voices known to our County Supervisors. We are so grateful to these activists for social good.
