Leave it to a 9-year-old to sum up the purpose of Pelotonia: “If you want to raise money for cancer research, you can do it and you can help someone. It feels good to help someone, you get a nice feeling inside,” said Grace McNamara, whose has helped raise more than $5,000 this year.

The McNamara family were recently in Columbus, and stopped by the Pelotonia office. Grace walked in with a shy smile, a Wonder Woman T-shirt, which seemed appropriate given her fundraising superpowers, and sporting an unusually short hair style.

“I have to have gel in it, or it stands straight up,” Grace said of her close-cropped locks, and then told us the story behind the do.

In late May, as her third-grade classmates at Shiloh Point Elementary in Cummings, Georgia gathered around, a hair stylist shaved Grace’s head. It was the culmination of her Pelotonia fundraising efforts for her aunt, Erin Sauter, the Assistant Director of Donor Experience at Ohio State, and a Pelotonia Rider.

“They put it on the school TV so everyone in all the classrooms was watching,” said Grace, 9, who’s a little shy. “I don’t like a lot of attention.”

Sorry Grace, but when you do something special, wondrous even, you’re bound to attract some attention. Especially from all your new Pelotonia friends.

And her mom, Shannon, also underwent a head shaving “so I wouldn’t fell weird about it,” Grace said.

They both looked – and still look – fabulous. And are very aerodynamic.

All the fundraising and shaving began with what’s called a Passion Project. Grace and her classmates spent time each day researching and writing about a topic that’s important to them.

Grace chose cancer research. Here’s why: “Sometimes you get cancer and have to go to therapy and sometimes it doesn’t work and you could die from cancer.”

Everyone at Shiloh Elementary – including Grace’s siblings Hanna, 11 and Sean, 7 – chipped in to help her raise money for Pelotonia.

The school’s first graders, including Sean, held a flower shop fundraiser for Mother’s Day and raised $600. Half went to a local children’s charity, the other half to Pelotonia.

“My friend Akshara raised $200 (for Pelotonia),” Grace said.

Her head-shaving event was one of the many ways in which Grace raised money. Her efforts, she said, began with her classmates.

“Do your classmates have money?” someone asked Grace.

“No, but they told their parents about it and their parents told their friends and someone put it on Twitter and my Mom put it on Facebook,” Grace said. And yes, there’s a fundraising lesson in this for all of us.

Shannon wasn’t surprised her daughter has raised so much money.

“She’s one of those kids who, when she sets her mind on something, she really puts her mind on it,” said Shannon, who linked her daughter up with Aunt Erin and Pelotonia to take her Passion Project to the next level and turn Grace’s Passion Project words into action.

“We make a great team,” said Erin, who has been long-time Pelotonia supporter. She helps arrange the tours of the James for several Pelotonia Pelotons.

This was the first time Grace has raised money for Pelotonia. It may not be the last.

And, when she’s 14…

“I want to ride,” Grace said.

See you on the road in 2021, Grace.