When Josh Cochrane, a 10-year-old Yarmouth singer and volunteer with autism spectrum disorder sees someone in need, those close to him brace themselves for what comes next.

"There's just something about this kid," Josh Cochrane's mother Ann Harrington told CBC News.

"There's days where I get up and I'm thinking, 'Huh, I gotta move?' And he's like 'C'mon mom! We ain't got time for this, Let's go, let's go.' He's my motivator."

Harrington says he's helped raise thousands of dollars for Halifax's IWK Health Centre, veterans, fire departments, and other charities. On April 12, Cochrane was honoured by the municipality of Yarmouth and the province for his volunteer work.

"When I help, it makes my heart feel warm," Cochrane said.

The boy's latest conquest is for Marlie Curwin, a one-year-old from New Brunswick whose treatment for acute myeloid leukemia at the IWK isn't going the way doctors had hoped.

On April 26 and 27, Cochrane will host stem cell drives at NSCC's Burridge Campus in Yarmouth, as Curwin's parents hope a bone marrow transplant will be more successful than her chemotherapy.

Marlie Curwin, from Sackville, N.B., is battling acute myeloid leukemia at the IWK. Cochrane says the two met and loved to play hide and go seek in the hospital's rooms and hallways. (Submitted by Ann Harrington)

Overcoming 'autistic tendencies'

Harrington says her son has come a long way since having trouble interacting with others. Now, strangers occasionally wave hello to them on the street, she says, thanks to his growing local celebrity.

Music eased his "typical autistic tendencies" at an early age. He was singing at fundraisers before he was "barely talking," Harrington said.

"He pairs up with Subway here in Yarmouth," Harrington added. "We call it Lunch with Josh. Customers come in, have lunch with him. He sings while they're eating. They drop money into a little donation jar."

Cochrane's been in and out of the IWK for his own medical issues, including hypotonia as a baby. There, he's met, sung, and played with other sick kids, like Curwin.

"He said, 'I wanna help, where I'm gonna help more.' And I said, 'What do you mean more?' And he said, 'Well, I don't want any more of my friends to die.'"

Cochrane stands by one of the posters he appears on in the IWK, where he's been treated for medical issues of his own. (Submitted by Ann Harrington)

Putting others first

The upcoming stem cell drives in Yarmouth are the latest efforts to help Curwin. In March, Honour Marlie blood drives and OneMatch swabbing events were held in New Brunswick.

Cochrane says the drives are a real chance "to save her life."

"And it would make people feel good. If you're not a match for Marlie, you could be a match for someone else," he said.

Though her son's face can be seen on posters in the halls of the IWK as recognition for helping others, Harrington says Cochrane's fundraising for himself suffers a little.

He's been trying to raise money to return to the World Autism Festival this fall — an international event at which he's won awards in the past. But Harrington says they're confident he'll get there.

"He's doing fundraising for the IWK right now and he's also doing the drive for Marlie, so that comes first," Harrington said. "And after all that's done, then we push for him."

Marlie Curwin's online crowdfunding campaign currently sits at more than $11,000 raised.