Most 12 year olds can only imagine raising $1,800 for a cause. Tyler Hanft exceeded expectations and raised $5,767 for Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure in Albany.
My mom had breast cancer in 2006, and that was a big shock to my family, said Hanft.` I had to take on a project for my bar mitzvah and I chose the Race for the Cure because it was something that meant a lot to my family and something to connect with.` Hanft originally set out to raise $1,800 as a part of a project to do good works. Creating a Web site for donations, he told the story of his mother and his goal for the project. As the race deadline looms, the project has raised three times the amount that he originally set out to make.
Hanft’s mother, Marjorie Rosenthal, is a breast cancer survivor of three years and plans on running with her son during the Oct. 3 race.
`I’ve gotten many congratulations,` said Hanft, `Everyone is excited, the whole community is behind me.`
Rosenthal said everything just fell into place.
`Gates of Heaven in Schenectady was looking for a project that was meaningful to him [Hanft], and he loves to run,` said Rosenthal.
`I’ve ran a few 5K’s before,` said Hanft, `I’ve ran in the Gates of Heaven Cherry Blossom Festival 5K and the D.A.R.E. Runs.`
Hanft is a member of the Van Antwerp Middle School modified soccer team and is now looking to join the Niskayuna High School track and field team in the spring of 2010.
`I think its wonderful and I’m a proud mama,` said Rosenthal.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will start at Madison Ave. immediately west of the New York State Museum in Albany on Oct. 3. The 5K Co-ed run will begin at 9 a.m. with the two-mile family walk to follow. Registration is $35 the day of the race and closes 30 minutes before each race. For information, call the Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Northeastern New York at 250-5379 or online at www.komenneny.org.
`I’m really pumped and I’m amazed at the amount of money raised,` said Hanft.
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