My name is Noah Palansky and I’m a grade 8 student at the Gray Academy. In April of 2008 my mom, Naomi [Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate Alumni class of ‘82] was diagnosed with cancer.

It was a big shock because she had always been so healthy. I wanted to help but didn’t know what I could do since I was only 12.

I decided to join the Challenge for Life 20k Walk. I have set a lifetime goal to raise one million dollars for Cancer Care and research.

This year will be my 3rd year doing the walk and in my first 2 years I’ve raised over $60,000.
I like the Challenge for Life because all the money raised stays in Manitoba and goes toward research and helping Manitobans in their battle with cancer.

This year I met with Cancer Care Manitoba and they accepted my proposal to head-up a Kids Count Division of the walk.  The Kids Count Team is run by kids for kids.  I’m trying to get as many kids as possible to join my Kids Count team and participate in the walk.  It involves a commitment to raise at least $1,000 and to make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of getting cancer. Anyone under 18 can join.

Please help me show that although we are younger, kids count and together we can make a difference.

Thanks, Noah 

p.s. Anyone wanting to join my Kids Count Team or make a donation can visit my web page by googling http://www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/NetCommunity/noahpalansky

Editor’s note: Below is an article Noah Palansky wrote this past January which is being reprinted for the readership of the Winnipeg Jewish Review.

NOAH PALANSKY: WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO CARRY THAT TORCH!!

By Noah Palansky

Hi, my name is Noah Palansky, and last week I was the Olympic Community Torch Bearer for Winnipeg.  I was asked to write a little bit about my experience.

Earlier this year I studied about Greece in school and did a project about the Olympics.   I learned that the flame starts in Greece and travels through the country hosting the Olympics.   I realized that during my run I was the only person in the world responsible for keeping the olympic flame and all it stands for alive.  This was pretty amazing to me.

The day before my torch run was kind of a weird day at school; 3 tv stations had sent reporters and camera crews to follow me around and interview me at school.

Finally the big day arrived.  We left in the shuttle bus, and I was told that I was sitting in the exact same spot that Sidney Crosby sat earlier in the month.   My family and I are big hockey fans and my 10 year old sister Lexi said “Wow you sat in the same seat as Crosby!   You should never wash your butt again.”

As I lit my torch, tons of people started to cheer and chant my name.   Once the flame was passed to me, 8 RCMP surrounded me for my entire walk.  I could not believe how big the crowd was.  I ran onto the stage and lit the cauldron and everybody cheered.  

I was picked by Mayor Sam Katz to be the Olympic Community Torch Bearer because of my fundraising for the Challenge for Life 20K Walk for Cancer Care Manitoba.  In the past two years, I have raised more than $60,000 for cancer care and research.  Last year, I set a life time goal of raising $1 000 000 and this year, although I am signed up for the Challenge For Life in June, another priority for me is my “Kids Count Campaign”.

I created the Kids Count Campaign to show that although kids are younger than adults we can still do important things; it just takes a little more effort.  I have been trying to get as many kids to walk, donate or get involved with raising money as I can.  I have been going to schools asking the schools to fundraise and I started a “Kids Count Toonie Tuesday” which is basically getting schools to ask all the kids to bring a toonie or any other donation to support my fundraising. This year Toonie Tuesday will be on May 11th.

This year I am also going to be heading up the “Kids Count Division” of the Challenge for Life for Cancer Care Manitoba.  The Kids Count Division will track all the money raised by kids and my hope is that we can make up a significant percentage of the overall walk.

I have received a lot of attention and recognition for my fundraising, which is nice, but it is not why I do it. It makes me feel good to know that I am helping the many Manitobans dealing with cancer.  To all the kids out there, please consider enrolling in the walk, committing to raise $1000, and committing to making healthy lifestyle choices to reduce your own risk of getting cancer.  Together we can make a difference.

p.s.  To access my fundraising webpage to browse or donate, please google Challenge for Life.ca and search for my name as a walker.