MCALESTER, Okla. — At first glance, Reed Marcum is a typical teenager, but within the first few moments of a conversation with him, you start to realize he isn't.
He's got an incredibly kind heart with a knack for giving to those in need. It turns out he's great at getting others to give too.
Depending on the day, you could catch Marcum doing wind sprints with his football team or practicing closing remarks for an upcoming mock trial.
However, Marcum is starting to become known for his fundraising videos on social media.
At just 15-years-old, Marcum has started a foundation to donate to pediatric cancer research annually. Last year he raised $7,600. This year, Marcum had a goal to beat last year's amount and raise $10,000.
This year, through the Hudson Strong Foundation, Marcum raised $21,806.02.
Marcum launched the foundation last year after seeing Hudson Campbell's story on Facebook.
Marcum had been working to help those in need since he was about 9 years old, but seeing 2-year-old Hudson's picture made him want to do even more for his community.
"He just had the cutest little smile you'd ever see," Marcum said.
The Campbell family posted about their son, Hudson Campbell, during his fight through cancer.
"He was 14 months old when he was diagnosed with cancer,” Kelley Campbell, Hudson's mom, said. "He was perfect and healthy until one day he started walking, unsteadily, so we took him to the doctor and they found a brain tumor."
“It was tough for all of us, it’s hard to describe, it was earth-shattering," Michael Cambpell, Hudson's father, said.
Hudson Cambell was almost three years old when he passed.
During the hardest part of their lives, the Campbell family was given hope from an unsuspecting stranger, Marcum.
“I just wanted to see what I could do to help, so this came to my head, so I can raise a little money to help people through this,” Marcum said.
Marcum never got to meet Reed, but that didn't stop him from wanting to keep his memory alive.
"When we lost Hudson, our main goal was we wanted to keep his memory alive, but also help other people and raise awareness for childhood cancer," Kelley Campbell said, "Reed has given us a way to do that.”
"To do the things that he’s done for our family ,and through The Hudson Foundation, it's pretty remarkable, and a kid at that age," Michael Campbell said.
Marcum says he wants to keep helping others no matter what age he is.
"It feels amazing to be able to make this difference in someone's life," Marcum said. “I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can.”
This year, Marcum is using some of the money raised to send 9-year-old MacKenna (Kenna) Mattioda to Disney World.
Mattioda was born with a congenital heart disease called pulmonary valve aresia and pulmonary artery stenosis, which has forced her to undergo multiple open-heart surgeries. She is a fighter, but her parents say her heart is getting tired.
"Despite what she's gone through, she's just got this bright smile that will light up a room," Marcum said.
With the money Marcum has raised through conducting a silent auction, Kenna will be able to smile even bigger.
2 Works For You asked Marcum why he kept giving to others and Marcum said, "I’m just doing my part and giving back."
To help Marcum continue to help others click here.
Every day 43 children are diagnosed with cancer, 1 in 8 of them will not survive.
About 1,190 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2020.
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