Inspired by his mother's battle with breast cancer, Wagga's 12-year-old Quade Smith has raised more than $10,000 for Can Assist in just over six months.
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Quade began fundraising for the charity in May of this year after growing out his hair for four years, which he then cut and donated to be turned into wigs for cancer patients.
It was after that he came up with the idea to sell cups with holes in the bottom for drainage for plants, which, thanks to community donations, quickly turned into plants, then plants complete with ceramic pots.
"Mum had cancer four years ago and I shaved my head and I wanted to make wigs and we came up with the idea of fundraising," Quade said.
"[I will continue fundraising] until people stop supporting us," Quade said.
Can Assist is a charity organisation which provides services to help bridge the gap between city and country cancer patients.
Quade is "winding down" for the year, and will take a break for running the stall, but is aiming to come back next year stronger than ever, with hopes of raising another $10,000 in 2022.
"We mainly sell the plants through markets or on Facebook Marketplace," he said, but occasionally Quade will set up a stall outside of their house.
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Quade said, on top of school, running the stall can be somewhat tiring, but he has no plans to quit.
Mother Naomi Michel said she is lucky to have a son like Quade.
"It's beautiful to have a child-like him, he's just special," she said.
"He's always been kind and he does have a lot of compassion for people and it's a good way for him to feel like he's doing something.
"We don't know who we are helping but we know we are helping."
Ms Michel said they chose Can Assist because they wanted to support a broad range of cancer patients.
"Can Assist is supports patients with all cancers and we wanted it to be broad," she said.
Ms Michel said their fundraising success is also a result of a generous and supportive community.
"Now people know what we're doing, we get donations coming through," she said.
"I'll come home and there will be bags of potting mix and pots at our door and because they're donated all of the money from the sales goes directly to Can Assist."
Ms Michel said Quade usually sells his plants at the Wagga Markets by the Lake, with the next market set for Australia Day.
Quade also has a Gofundme page and a Facebook page, Quade's Fundraising for Can Assist.
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