Videos Posted by Michael Cuccione
Michael on Baywatch [HQ]
Clips of Michael from the 1997 Baywatch episode, "Charlie".
On the 5th of October 1996, Michael visited the set of one of his favourite TV programmes, Baywatch, thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation. The show's star David Hasselhoff took time to get to know Michael and his story, and told him of another boy with cancer who used to visit the Baywatch set, Charlie Hays. David was so impressed with Michael that he said that he would try and feature him in an episode, singing his song "Make A Difference". The following year, Michael was invited to audition for the role of Charlie Giminiski, a character based on Charlie Hays, in an episode dedicated to him, and was successful.
Charlie Hays (1984-1997) was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer in September 1991. He was given only six months to live, but survived six years after his diagnosis. He wanted to live by the beach in Malibu to live out his last few months, and spent a lot of time on the set of Baywatch. Michael's mother Gloria and Charlie's mother Susan found the similarities between the two boys remarkable. Charlie also liked to help people. On his 12th birthday, knowing it would be his last, he used his savings to buy presents for sick children in hospital, and even delivered them personally. Charlie also allowed researchers to conduct tests on him, which resulted in the discovery of the mutant gene which causes his type of cancer, thereby saving many lives. Charlie was given a lifeguard's memorial service after he died.
[This information comes from Michael's book, "There Are Survivors", which can be purchased along with his CDs at his foundation's website: http://www.childhoodcancer
The songs appearing in these clips are "Peace And Love" by Blessid Union of Souls, and "Make A Difference" by Michael Cuccione.
Many thanks to Nikki for allowing me to use these clips. All of Michael's appearance in this episode can be downloaded at her website:
http://2gether4infinity.mo
On the 5th of October 1996, Michael visited the set of one of his favourite TV programmes, Baywatch, thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation. The show's star David Hasselhoff took time to get to know Michael and his story, and told him of another boy with cancer who used to visit the Baywatch set, Charlie Hays. David was so impressed with Michael that he said that he would try and feature him in an episode, singing his song "Make A Difference". The following year, Michael was invited to audition for the role of Charlie Giminiski, a character based on Charlie Hays, in an episode dedicated to him, and was successful.
Charlie Hays (1984-1997) was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer in September 1991. He was given only six months to live, but survived six years after his diagnosis. He wanted to live by the beach in Malibu to live out his last few months, and spent a lot of time on the set of Baywatch. Michael's mother Gloria and Charlie's mother Susan found the similarities between the two boys remarkable. Charlie also liked to help people. On his 12th birthday, knowing it would be his last, he used his savings to buy presents for sick children in hospital, and even delivered them personally. Charlie also allowed researchers to conduct tests on him, which resulted in the discovery of the mutant gene which causes his type of cancer, thereby saving many lives. Charlie was given a lifeguard's memorial service after he died.
[This information comes from Michael's book, "There Are Survivors", which can be purchased along with his CDs at his foundation's website: http://www.childhoodcancer
The songs appearing in these clips are "Peace And Love" by Blessid Union of Souls, and "Make A Difference" by Michael Cuccione.
Many thanks to Nikki for allowing me to use these clips. All of Michael's appearance in this episode can be downloaded at her website:
http://2gether4infinity.mo