Alle Shea Collazo was born on April 14, 2009 with a severe form of the brittle bone disorder known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI).

At birth, Alle — whose parents reside in Irondequoit — was born with a broken arm, wrist, legs and skull fractures; the doctors did not expect her to live past the week. She passed away on May 21, 2009 due to respiratory complication from OI.

Alle Shea's parents, Angelo and Kim, are holding a fundraiser to support the work of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation from 11:30 a.m. to midnight this Saturday, April 14, at the Pizzeria Uno Chicago Grill, 931 Holt Road, Webster. The foundation is a national voluntary health organization located in Gaithersburg, Md. One hundred percent of the money raised will go to the OI foundation, which responds to more than 6,000 inquiries each year, produces new information resources, funds research, and facilitates the operation of support groups across the country.

Two men who lost their lives to cancer will be honored this weekend at the 11th Annual Hike for Life, sponsored Christopher’s Challenge and Strong’s Blood and Marrow Transplant Program on Sunday, March 25. The Hike for Life will be held in memory of Gene Martello, from Seneca Falls, and Tony Canali, from Canandaigua. Both men were in need of bone marrow transplants, and were dedicated supporters of Christopher's Challenge and believed in the mission of getting more people typed to be potential bone marrow donors.

Tony Canali, a guidance counselor and rugby and indoor track coach for McQuaid Jesuit, lost his battle with AML Leukemia in 2009 on his 60th birthday. Gene Martello passed away in 2006 after a brave fight with multiple myeloma. Gene’s son, Mark Martello, became a bone marrow donor last year after taking part in a bone marrow drive at a Christopher’s Challenge Hike for Life the previous year. He is hoping to meet his recipient soon.

I'm looking forward to the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO) spring concert season for several reasons:  the music is exemplary and...my son plays the tuba in it.  If you're free on Sunday, March 4th or Sunday, May 13th, check out these concerts.  You'll be delighted by the quality of the performances.

The RPYO is a symphony orchestra comprised of 100 dedicated young musicians in grades eight through 12 from around the greater Rochester area.  These two spring concerts conclude the orchestra's 2011/2012 41st season.  The March one includes its annual side-by-side concert with members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. All performances are led by Dr. David Harman, music director and conductor of the RPYO.

“Our students have enormous talent and passion for music and incredible drive,” said Dr.