6-Year-Old Makes Video Campaign For 'Relay For Life'

Whiz Kid of the Week

• Name and Age: Thomas Cerniglia, 6, kindergarten
• School:
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Thomas raised $655, to date, for the Palm Harbor American Cancer Society Relay for Life event on April 8 and 9. His $655 figure was higher than all the team members combined.
• Key to Awesomeness: A gifted class community service project spurred Thomas to lead his mother’s Palm Harbor Relay for Life team “because my Mamie had cancer,” he explained. After beating lung cancer, his maternal grandmother succumbed to uterine cancer when he was about 2 ½ years old. Thomas led efforts to market an unscripted video campaign, “One Dollar At A Time,” via YouTube.com, and even set his own fundraising goal.
  
  His mother suggested a $200 goal. “He said, ‘No, no, no. Let’s make it $500’,” his mother Sharin Cerniglia said. “He blew past it. … He’s an incredible kid. When he’s passionate about something, he just runs with it.”
  
  “Part of me was proud that he was so emotional about it,” his mother said. She explained how he made a luminaria out of a paper bag and put sand in the bottom. He drew a face with glasses on it. When it was lit and the lights went out, and he could see “HOPE” in the rafters, he began to weep.
  
  “I felt like he got it. It’s not just, ‘I’m raising money and having fun.’ He understood. That’s what was pivitol,” she said.
  
  The Relay for Life chairman was so impressed with his effort that he formally recognized Thomas at the event. And Thomas is still raising money. He’s allowed to collect new donations until Aug. 31. He’s also already making plans for next year; he recently called a family meeting to discuss things he’d like to change.
  
  Contribute to Thomas’ campaign by clicking here.

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They could be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Nominate your Whiz Kid by emailing editor Katie Dolac at Kathryn.Dolac@patch.com.