Rochester — A local first-grader recently raised more than $22,000 to help his peers with cancer.

Yes, $22,000.

Frankie Gallo, who attends Holy Family Regional School in Rochester, took part in the annual head-shaving fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that fundraises for childhood cancer research and promotes solidarity with young cancer patients.

On March 17, Frankie had raised $20,867 and his team, “Hairway to Heaven,” had raised a total of $28,697. The annual event in the village of Romeo, where Frankie had his head shaved, took place on March 14, but even afterward the donations continued flow in.

As of March 26, Frankie had raised $22,512 — the most of any participant in the state of Michigan and 20th most among all participants in the United States — and his team had raised $30,392. Not bad for a kid who’s still a decade away from getting his driver’s license.

Frankie’s father, Tony Gallo, told The Michigan Catholic that Frankie’s cousin had originally decided to cut his own hair to fundraise for childhood cancer. Tony Gallo said his sister — Frankie’s aunt — was recently diagnosed with cancer, as well.

“Frankie said, ‘Daddy can I do it?’ I said sure, go ahead,” said Tony in a March 26 phone conversation. “His cousins were doing it for the first time; he wanted to help out the kids with cancer.”

Tony credited “a lot of great business associates, family and friends” for the major fundraising success, and added that Frankie “was all in” and not at all scared to have his head shaved.

“We’re proud of him,” said Tony.

Tony said their family didn’t participate in the fundraiser for the publicity: “We’re just happy to have helped.”

St. Baldrick’s — which is not named after a real Catholic saint, but a wordplay on the nonprofit’s signature event — originated to fund research for childhood cancer, with the emphasis that a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide every three minutes.

 

St. Baldrick’s Foundation

The event is over, but you can still donate to Frankie’s team, “Hairway to Heaven.” Call St. Baldrick’s at (888) 899-2253 and use participant #767957, or donate online at stbaldricks.org and search “Frankie Gallo.”