Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Tonya Papanikolas reporting A 13-year-old from Highland, Utah, is using his passion for storytelling to support a cause that's very important to him.
The shelf in Alex Bowcut's bedroom is filled with awards for storytelling. "I've been storytelling since I was in kindergarten, so six years, seven years," he said.
His mom, Torri Bowcut, said, "He has been a national finalist three years in a row at the National Storytelling Hall of Fame."
But of all his awards, Alex's favorite is one for Outstanding Young Utah volunteer. "It's great, ‘cause you know you're just doing so much good," Alex said.
Alex has used his storytelling skills to raise money for cancer research, a cause close to his heart since his grandma passed away from stomach cancer in 2005.
Alex said, "We decided that we should make a storytelling CD. My grandma always wanted to go to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, so we decided we should donate the money there."
For the past three years, Alex has recorded two separate CDs, the first included a story about his grandma. He sells the CDs at storytelling festivals and to friends and family. He doesn't keep a single cent of the proceeds and even foots the bill for production costs.
Alex has sold more than 400 of his CD's. And as the money comes in, he takes it to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Today's drop-off brought Alex's fundraising total to more than $5,000.
Robert Haight, with the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, said, "We applaud him magnificently for the work he does. He's outperformed some of the adults that do fundraisings. He is wonderful."
"I definitely hope that it can all go toward a cure for cancer," Alex said.
His mom said, "I'm extremely proud, and it's like we say to him, I really believe that his grandma is very much aware of what's going on."
Alex says raising the money has not only taught him about giving, it also gave him a special way to remember his grandma. He says he plans to make a third CD.
