HUDSON, N.H. (AP) – When Boston broke Keene’s record for the most jack-o’-lanterns in one place Saturday, Mark Cerato helped make it happen.

Cerato, 43, of Hudson, hauled more than half of the 30,128 pumpkins to the Boston Common, which raised money for Camp Sunshine, a Casco, Maine, retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

“Camp Sunshine, that’s home sweet home for us,” said Cerato, a trucker for New Penn Motor Express Inc., who started volunteering at the camp after he was diagnosed with cancer four years ago this Halloween. He underwent successful surgery in 2003.

“My wife calls it our giveback,” Cerato said.

Camp Sunshine allows families to spend a weeklong retreat at the camp on Sebago Lake for free.

Matt Hoidal, executive director of Camp Sunshine, said the money raised through the Life is good pumpkin festivals across the country, including Boston’s, will allow the camp to continue its free family retreats, which offer counseling and medical support.

Boston-based clothing company Life is good, which has a major manufacturing operation in Hudson, started holding pumpkin festivals in 2003. They set a new world record with the city of Boston on Saturday for the largest number of lit jack-o’-lanterns in one place.

The last record, 28,952 jack-o’-lanterns, was set by Keene in 2003.

While Life is good raised $271,027 at the Boston Common, an additional $212,388 was raised at 18 other Life is good pumpkin festivals across the country.

Money was raised prior to the festivals through T-shirts. Money was also raised Saturday through other Life is good merchandise sold on site, various auctions, food sales, as well as donation boxes.

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Information from: The Telegraph, www.nashuatelegraph.com

AP-ES-10-24-06 0501EDT