A Winnipeg teenager, prompted by his mother's illness, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research.

Noah Palansky, 13, began fundraising for CancerCare Manitoba last year after his mother, Naomi, was diagnosed with cancer in April. He has already raised $15,000 for cancer this year, on top of the $14,000 he raised last year.

"I've set a lifetime goal of raising $1 million for cancer care and research, so basically I'm trying to get it as fast as I can I guess."

Palansky has been soliciting donations through a door-to-door and email campaign, as well through friends and family. He also has a personalized section on the website for Challenge for Life, an annual fundraising event hosted by CancerCare Manitoba.

And Palansky is finding lots of support from fellow classmates, too.

"Kids think just cause they can't do that much, they couldn't give a lot of money. They could only give $5 or something, they think it won't help, but it does," said Carson Domchuk, a student at École Van Walleghem, one of at least six schools in the city participating in Noah's Kids Count Toonie Tuesday Campaign.

"If you can inspire one person along a positive path I think you make a difference in this world," said Palansky's mom, Naomi. "He's inspired so many people and so many kids to say that it really doesn't matter how old you are or where you come from that you can make a difference and every little bit counts."