One person can make a difference. 

An individual may be one fish in a huge ocean, but if everyone in the world donated $5 toward cancer research, that’s a total of over $38 billion. $38 billion contributed to finding a cure for cancer. That is the goal that senior Patrick Faulkner had in mind when he began raising money for cancer awareness.

“I don’t care how much money I gather in total, it’s just every penny counts,” Patrick said. “In the end, it’s all going to the same cause to help out with cancer awareness and cancer research.”

Patrick started raising money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in support of his 9-year-old friend, Logan Smith, who suffers from Neuroblastoma. Logan was diagnosed at the age of 2 and began treatment. He is now on his third round of treatment.

“He’s our little warrior,” Patrick’s mother, Michelle, said.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has lended a helping hand to Logan and his family during his treatments. Patrick’s parents have raised money and shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in the past and now so has he.

“Patrick has always seen my husband and I put others before ourselves and we’ve passed that onto Patrick,” Michelle said. “I think he’s taking that as even if it’s something small, he can make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Patrick’s parents had one condition – that he raise the money on his own. He ended up raising $353.

“He’s learning that he can raise this money himself to help the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, he just has to ask and people are willing to help especially when they know what it’s going towards,” Michelle said.

There are many other foundations like the St. Baldrick’s Foundation that are raising money for cancer research. The Faulkner family will continue their tradition in support of Logan and others suffering from cancer, and they hope that others will take action too so that a cure can be found.

“[I do this] to inspire them to help out and donate money to cancer research,” Patrick said.