THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008

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One Boy's Loss Is Gain For Others

By TOM ROBB

Journal Reporter

Gino Piscopo addressed the Elk Grove Village board Tuesday, his head and large green St. Patrick's Day hat barely rising above the podium.

The 10-year-old Elk Grove Village boy literally passed that hat in an effort to raise money in pledges for the shaving of his head this Saturday for St. Baldrick's, a charity supporting childhood cancer research.

Gino's mother Brenda said two years ago Gino net Jillian, a four or five-year-old cancer survivor, bald after two years of chemotherapy.

Brenda and father Frank had to explain why Jillian was bald and what cancer is to their young son.

Moved by Jillian's story, Gino set out to raise funds and awareness. Gino will shave his head at Patrick Mini Cooper, located at 696 E. Golf Rd. in Schaumburg, on Saturday, Mar. 15 at 11 a.m.

By shaving their heads volunteers show sympathy to cancer survivors when chemotherapy causes them to lose their hair.

After making a donation to Gino and urging other board members to do the same, Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson told Gino, "Now, I want to see you back here (at the next village board meeting) two weeks from tonight and I want to see your head shaved."

Several other trustees and police officers at the meeting also made donations and Johnson jokingly threatened that he would shave other trustees heads unless they made a "good donation" to Gino's cause.

Last year, Gino's first year fundraising, he collected $800 he in pledges for his head shaving.

Gino has collected $520 so far. his goal is to raise $1,000 for the charity this year.

Gino's father heard about St. Baldrick's from one of his friends.

Gino is taking donations through a web site his father set up at www.gino16.webs.com.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is one of the largest youth cancer research volunteer fundraising organizations in the United States.

Gino's father said sports teams and others are always asking for money.

"This is a better cause than playing ball," said Frank.