Michael Cuccione

Michael James Cuccione ( born January 5, 1985 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, † January 13, 2001 in Vancouver ) was a Canadian actor, musician and founder of the Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research.

Life

Michael Cuccione was born the second oldest of three children of Domenic and Gloria Cuccione. His older sister is called Sophia, his younger brother Steven.

In June 1994, she was diagnosed with the 9- year lymph node cancer in an advanced stage. He survived both 1994 and early 1995, two chemotherapeutic regimens, however, permanent damage to the lungs and heart kept back.

Then Michael began to draw attention on radio and television on the mortal danger of cancer. He visited schools, hospitals and performed at other events. He met with the then Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Pope John Paul II in Rome.

His life motto was after a quote from the IMDb:

• English: ". One person can do so much, but together we can make a difference "
• German: " A person can achieve a lot, but many can together make a difference. "

In collaboration with his grandmother, he published a book with the title " There Are Survivors ". Also he composed and sang a music album with five songs, including the title "Make a Difference" as a cover song. The other songs called Do not Wanna Say Goodbye, Lock The Door, Never Give Up, and When You Are Away.

1997 Michael played a guest role as a cancer sick boy in "Baywatch - The Baywatch ", episode Charlie. He was cast with four other boys (Noah Bastian, Evan Farmer, Kevin Farley and Alex Solowitz ) for " 2gether " 1999. In the film, five boys start a new boy band that got a large fan base, although the band was fictitious. The soundtrack of the feature film, which was released in February 2000, was 100 chart in Billboard 's Top. In August 2000, it was decided from the movie " 2gether " the TV series " 2gether: The Series " to produce, which was a great success. Although Michael and the boys mimed a band just in front of the film camera, other musicians were aware of them. In the fall of 2000 was " 2gether " opening act for Britney Spears.

In the course of filming the second season of " 2gether " Michael was dependent on an oxygen tank because he got visibly breathing problems. Many public events of the band, he could no longer perform. On December 4, 2000, he was admitted with pneumonia to the hospital. During hospitalization, his lungs failed and he died in the presence of his family. At his funeral on January 17, 2001 in Vancouver sang " Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff a song in memory of Michael Cuccione.

For the Foundation

The Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research has already received numerous awards during his lifetime to Michaels: BCTV 's Saturday Child, Vancouver Leader of Tomorrow Award and the YTV Achievement Award. By December 2000, the Foundation had a budget of $ 500,000 CAD.