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On Saturday, 7-year-old William "Gray" Weaver went bald - for charity.

On Saturday, Gray allowed several people to take turns shaving his head to raise money for St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer fundraising event to help fight childhood cancer.

"I just wanted to do it so they can have hair," Gray said in an interview last week.

At the event, volunteers have their heads shaved to show solidarity with children who are fighting cancer.

Like marathons, the volunteers collect donations and give the money to the foundation. The money goes toward research on fighting childhood cancer.

Initially, Gray wanted to shave his head so he can swim faster, he said.

It turned into a fundraiser after his parents suggested he do it for a worthy cause.

"My husband, Mark , found it on the Internet, and we thought this is a worthy cause," said Corrie Weaver, Gray's mom.

His desire to shave his head began as a one-boy operation but it has turned into a family affair.

Though the family has not been directly affected by childhood cancer, they do know someone who has been affected.

"We thought that since we've been blessed with three healthy children, it's so easy for us to give our time to help out," Weaver said.

Armed with a new cause and Gray's mastery of public relations, as of Thursday afternoon, the family was $80 short of the $500 fundraising goal. The total was at $515 by Monday morning.

"The first people he asked were the garbage men; he walked up the street after them and told them about it and asked for a donation, and they gave," Weaver said.

"He's not scared to ask, either. He's asked family, friends, church members, people at school and anyone we thought would be interested in helping with this."

Now that this event is over, the family hopes to grow the event next year to have more people volunteer to shave their heads to help raise money.

"(They should) look outside the box and see how they as a family can benefit other kids," Weaver said.

Gray agrees. He said it feels "good."

"They can help doctors get supplies to help people," he said.

Contact Tiffany S. Jones at 449-4731 or tiffany.jones@news-record.com