... and cookie is for childhood cancer. Okay, so those aren't exactly the same words Sesame Street's Cookie Monster used to sing. But I think it could legitimately work for the New Jersey-based charity Cookies for Kids' Cancer, which was created to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancers. Much like the well-known Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Cookies for Kids' Cancer begins with the story of a child diagnosed with cancer. Liam Witt was 2 years old when in 2007 he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer that only about 30 percent of children survive from. His parents, Larry Witt and Gretchen Holt, decided they wanted to get involved in whatever way they could to support cancer research and possibly save their son. So Gretchen decided to hold a bake sale. Her goal was to bake and sell 96,000 cookies. In three weeks, with the help of tons of volunteers, over $400,000 was raised. Now people all over the country hold bake sales to raise money that directly supports pediatric research at cancer centers across the nation. It's been about three years since Liam's diagnosis and even though he's doing well (you can follow the family's story here), the need for newer therapies for childhood cancers is still pretty dire. (See "More Therapies Needed for Childhood Cancer," from CURE's 2010 Summer issue.) Cookies for Kids' Cancer continues to hold bake sales that anyone can host. And if you can't bake, you can always purchase the organization's gourmet cookies.
