To nominate a student for Youth Spotlight, email wvictora@nwfdailynews.com or call 315-4478.
FORT WALTON BEACH — Two years ago Casey and Jeremy Harris raised $11,000 for a local toddler battling leukemia as part of their Bar Mitzvah.
Last month, the 14-year-old twins raised $10,000 for the same little girl simply because she still needed help.
“I think this is one of those ideas that you can continue into the next year and the next and the next,” Jeremy said.
The teens settled on helping now 2-year-old Charlotte Goodman as their required “good deed” for the Jewish rite of passage after they learned her grandmother worked at Meigs Middle School where they attend.
“We decided right there,” Jeremy recalled.
After identifying Charlotte and her family, the boys helped plan and organize a run/walk for them on St. Patrick’s Day called the Lucky Leprechaun 5K/10K.
With help from their parents, who own Run With It in downtown Fort Walton Beach, they were able to get about 600 runners the first year. More than 500 runners showed up this year, and they hope the event will grow as they look for ways to help other children, Casey said.
“It’s kind of like the gift that keeps on giving,” he said.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.
