A Brooklyn family is leading a nationwide effort to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

The family and friends of Frankie Loccisano, who died several months ago from a rare form of bone cancer, joined Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) at St. Ephrem Church on Fort Hamilton Parkway to urge Congress to pass the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. The legislation would put $150 million toward cancer research and care of youths with disease.

"The legislation has the potential to allow doctors and researchers to make new progress in the battle against pediatric cancers," said Fossella.

The family also launched a foundation in Loccisano's name to raise funds for cancer research.

Family and friends of Loccisano, a 17-year-old Xaverian student when he passed away, remembered him as a deeply religious person who had a lifelong dream of traveling to the Vatican and meeting the pope. Several months after his death, the monsignor at St. Ephrem Church acquired two tickets to the upcoming papal mass at Yankee Stadium. He gave the tickets to Loccisano's mother and grandmother.