Breast cancer affects over 200,000 Americans per year and presents a heartbreaking and difficult challenge for people diagnosed with it to face. One Locust Valley High School student, Gianna Palleschi, is doing her part to help make that fight less daunting for patients through her charity Pink Pom Pom.
Palleschi, who lives in Locust Valley, is a rising senior who says her favorite subjects are math and science. She explained that her mother Susan is a breast surgeon for Northwell Health, and that it was through watching her mother talk with and support her patients that she was inspired to help them as well.
“Usually she would call her patients the night before surgery just to check on them, and I would kind of overhear her trying to console them,” Palleschi said. “Listening to these phone calls made me want to do my part and kind of support these patients through their journeys in any way possible.”
Palleschi launched her charity in October of 2020, which helps uplift the spirits of breast cancer patients by sending them pink boxes with various items in them. Palleschi explained that she wanted to give patients “kind of uplifting items that would help support them through their journey.”
These include candles, socks, notepads, bath bombs, and other items that both have a practical function while also reminding the recipient that they are not alone in their fight against cancer. The boxes also always include inspirational note cards along with a signature pink pom pom keychain, to show that they have people cheering them on.
While she’ll occasionally get help from her mother or friends, Palleschi says by and large she hand packs most of the boxes. She explained that the charity is funded by donations through its social media pages, which has grown in the nearly three years since its founding through word of mouth among her friends, family, schoolmates and her mother’s colleagues.
While Palleschi predominantly works with her mother’s patients, she has also worked with other organizations, recently donating 15 boxes to the Manhasset Women’s Breast Cancer Coalition. In addition, she added that she has sent out over 250 boxes to people in over 40 states, including as far afield as Alaska and Hawaii.
Palleschi’s work has not gone unnoticed either. She has been invited to speak at the Bunchful Future of Philanthropy Summit in 2022, and in June she was named a recipient of the 2023 Nassau County District Attorney SHIELD Award, which highlights high school juniors that show service, honesty, integrity, excellence and leadership to better their community.
At the end of the day though, Palleschi says the only thing that really matters is knowing she’s doing her part to help brighten patients’ days and let them know that they’re not alone.
“I’m just very fortunate that I get to do this for the patients,” Palleschi added. “I feel so grateful that I’m able to help these patients through their journeys in whatever way I can.”
Anyone interested in learning more or donating to Pink Pom Pom can visit pinkpompombreastcancer.org.
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