Les Claypool Urges Fans to Buy Hydroponic Growing Supplies... For a Cause

Fresh from a few rounds of touring with his band Primus, Les Claypool wrote an open letter to fans that thanked them for all their support but then bared a particularly personal message. Appearing on his official website on Wednesday, the letter explained that in the midst of all his recent touring, Claypool was informed that his nephew, Matthew, was diagnosed with leukemia.

"Needless to say this has been a gut wrenching experience for all of us, and as the big brother, it breaks my heart to watch Ron and his wife Amy go through the torment of seeing their little boy suffer," writes Claypool. "People that know my bro know him to be one of the most giving and kindest fellows around. He is also very proud and not overly comfortable with the notion of taking charity, even from his own family. Unfortunately, the insanely monumental cost of treating a child with Matthew's ailment is overwhelming, so Ron and Amy have set up a website, www.babymatthew.org, where folks can donate to help offset some of the medical expenses."

With a minimum treatment period of three years -- and, hence, a childhood experience that will necessarily be filled with chemotherapy -- this is obviously a very difficult time for the entire Claypool family, in many ways. But rather than just giving charity (which, of course, would still be appreciated), Claypool has an alternative idea.

"This last year, Ron opened his own business, Green Gopher Garden Supply, in the Monterey [Calif.] area and has been progressing slowly but surely in the hydroponics retail business," writes Claypool. "But, like all new businesses, the first year is sketchy and I would like to encourage anyone in need of hydroponics supplies to do business with my bro. He's a good man and will treat you right. Buying from Green Gopher is actually the best way to help Matthew in the long run."

In other words, if you buy hydroponic supplies to grow your own food and/or medicine... you'll actually help the Claypool family get the medicine they need for baby Matthew? That sounds like a win-win situation that should be punctuated here by one of Claypool's signature porno-funk bass lines. Now, in the words of the Green Gopher, "Go grow something!"