Boy starts running streak to raise money for little girl with cancer

Ryan Tarapchak, an 11-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, is nearing the finish of a running streak which he started to raise funds for a girl who is battling cancer.

Isabella O’Brien is just six and was diagnosed with stage four alveolar rhabdomyoscarcoma, a rare form of cancer, back in March. She is the little sister of Tarapchak’s friend.

“He wanted to donate all of the money he saved for his friend’s little sister, Isabella,” says the boy’s mother, Janine. When she explained to her son that there might be a better method, the boy came back with the plan to run to raise the funds instead.

He started a 30-day running streak with a goal to raise $10,000 for the family. That running streak will end Sept. 8.

Before the streak started, Tarapchak had already been a longtime fan of distance running. His mother is running with him with most routes taking place up and down neighbourhood streets.

According to his Go Fund Me campaign, he has exceeded his goal and has raised $11,858 so far.  See his video below.