Step Up: Cookies to Battle Childhood Cancer

I firmly believe that cookies can lead us to the answer for many questions in life. This was confirmed for me yet again when I learned  about Cookies for Kids' Cancer, an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer research by selling cookies.

Cookies for Kids' Cancer was started by Gretchen, the mom of two-year old Liam, who was diagnosed with a deadly form of pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma. When they got the news about Liam's diagnosis, Gretchen and her husband Larry wanted to do everything they could to help their son recover. But they were surprised, and saddened, to learn that only about 30 percent of children survive this illness, and that number hasn't increased much in the past 20 years. Even though we live in an age when wonderful, break-though research increases the survival rate for all kinds of adult-onset cancer, pediatric cancer, the number one killer of children under 18, remains largely unstudied. That's because the government and pharmaceutical companies don't see the financial benefit of funding research. And that's where the cookies come in.

Rather than rage against an illogical and unfair system, Gretchen had an idea for how to take things into her own hands: hold a bake sale. A giant, larger-than-life bake sale, where, with the help of friends and family members, they made 96,000 cookies over the course of three weeks. And they raised $400,000 to help fight pediatric cancer. But that wasn't the end, because the request for cookies kept pouring in, along with offers of help from all over the country. Putting the requests and the offers together, it just made sense to support the people who want to hold local Cookies for Kids' Cancer bake sales. The site has a terrific four step process to help get organized, including signs, recipes and sample thank you letters. They also have a secure on-line site for people who want to make donations online.

In September they took another big step, partnering with Cookie Magazine (of course) and Lord & Taylor stores for nation-wide fund-raising effort. Starting on September 13th, and going until all of the cookies were gone, the stores sold chocolate chip cookies, with 100 percent of the $3 per cookie proceeds going to pediatric cancer research. Cookies for Kids' Cancer is determined to make the letter C stand for cookie. If you're thinking about holding your own bake sale, or need some motivation, check out some of the inspiring children they're helping, including Liam the original cookie inspiration. These brave kids and their families will make you want to step up, tie on your apron, and mix up the sugar, flour and vanilla. I'll bring the ice cold milk! Photo via scubadive67 on flickr.com.