Whiz Kid: Madison Boudreau-Popovic

Whiz Kid: Madison Boudreau-Popovic

Whiz Kid’s Age: 8

Whiz Kid’s School: Hutchinson Elementary School

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishments:

Madison Boudreau-Popovic has been supporting racers in Relay For Life--an all- night running event that raises money for cancer research--since she was 3 years old. Prior to this year, Madison would accompany and cheer on her mom, Denneen Boudreau. Come June, Madison will hit the track as for the first time, both as a walker and fundraiser. She'll be joining the Butterflies for Julianne II team to honor Julianne Borsella, an 8-year-old Pelhamite who passed away in November 2000 from Ewing’s Sarcoma. More personally, Madison will be honoring her grandmother Jo who succumbed to a rare type of ovarian cancer in August 2009.

In preparation for the June 5 Relay For Life, Madison has created her own fundraising page and has organized a plethora of activities for the actual event.

Whiz Kid’s Goal to Success:

Madison has learned how much Relay For Life and the American Caner Society impact and aid the millions of people afflicted by cancer throughout the United States.

“I raise money for medicine and other things to help them get better,” Madison said.

One way she and her mother plan to fundraise at the relay is to, with every donation they receive, they will provide the donator with a butterfly so that they may release it and make a wish. These donations will directly honor Madison’s grandmother and Julianne Borsella.

“It’s a great event because you feel like you are helping your loved ones by funding medical research to either find a cure, or to produce new medications that would provide more birthdays for people who are diagnosed with any sort of cancer," Denneen said. "It gives them hope.”

In addition to participating in Relay for Life, Madison has been growing her hair for close to a year, so that she will be able to donate it to Locks of Love, a non-profit that provides hair pieces for disadvantaged children suffering from long term medical hair loss.

Madison’s sacrifice of her time fundraising and hair is only a small testament of how much this endeavor means to Madison, according to her mom.

To see this whiz kid in action, support her on June 5 at Glover Field in for the second annual Pelham Relay For Life. If you would like to help Madison reach her goal, donations can be made on her own page or checks can be sent to the Boudreau-Popovic Family at 41 Third Street Pelham NY 10803. Checks must be made payable to the American Cancer Society. All checks received will be handed in at the night of the event to the American Cancer Society.