Child painting to raise money for cancer research

Jack Sullivan is a humanitarian and an entrepreneur. Not bad for a 5-year-old.

Courtesy photo: Heather Sullivan

Jack Sullivan creates hand paintings of fish, animals, trees and other designs from his home in Melrose. Sullivan's goal is to raise $3,000 for the 2012 Melrose Relay for Life by selling his paintings and baked goods prepared by his mother.

For the second year in a row, the Melrose youngster will sell his paintings of fish, animals, trees and other subjects to raise money for cancer. Sullivan also has personal reasons for his fundraising effort.

"I'm raising money to get rich and for lots of stuff like gum and candy so I can eat it," said Jack, who has been in treatment for ganglio-neuroblastoma cancer for more than two years. "The money is helping to get my cancer away from me."

Jack was the top individual fundraiser for the 2011 Melrose Relay For Life. He hopes to improve on those numbers for this year's event April 20.

"His story is so unique," said Heather Sullivan, Jack's mother. "He knows about his cancer, about the research and everything else. His goal this year is to raise $3,000 for the relay. It was $30,000 but we got him to go down to three."

Heather Sullivan said she posed the idea of painting pictures to raise relay money to Jack and Jack showed interest in hand paintings.

Heather said Jack raised about $700 for the relay in 2011 from his paintings. She said she and Jack painted more than 75 8 1/2 by 11 pictures they sold by donation in 2011.

Heather Sullivan said she and Jack create and sell the paintings at their home in Melrose.

Lance Widner, a Melrose High School senior, said he is most impressed by how brave Jack is for a child his age battling cancer.

"Every time I see Jack he gives me a hug," Widener said. "I really like to spend time with him whenever I can. He's a fun little kid to be around."

Widener said he looks forward to assisting Jack in his relay fundraising this year.

Online: To learn more about Jack and contribute to his cause visit caringbridge.org/visit/jacksullivan.