Being a mother changed me in many ways. The greatest change was the size that my heart grew once my children were born. They say that having kids is like watching your heart walk around outside of your body, and I agree. The most unexpected feeling for me, was noticing how much I began to care for all children, not just my own.
My own little firefighter
I have been enormously blessed with two healthy, perfect children. I am grateful for those things every single day, and struggle with the task of demonstrating my appreciation. How could I ever possibly love them more or savor the moments with them any more than I do?
A few months ago, I came across the story of little Liam Witt. He passed away on January 24th of this year after a four year battle with cancer. He was 6 years old. I read this story on the day that he passed away, which also happened to be my son’s 4th birthday. Here was a little boy who lived in New York City, had a tremendous heart and a passion for fire engines. The parallels were striking, and I spent a nice little chunk of that day reading his story and wiping away tears.
After Liam was diagnosed, his mother got right to work raising money for research for pediatric cancer. That year, she assembled 250 volunteers to bake and sell cookies, and ended up raising over $400,000 for pediatric cancer research. A year later she launched the national nonprofit, Cookies for Cancer, which is dedicated to raising money for pediatric cancer in the form of bake sales.
I’ve decided that this is a great way for me to get involved in making a small difference, and hopefully a decent contribution. I’m teaming up with Cookies for Cancer and holding what I hope will be a large bake sale in the month of May-which would have been Liam’s 7th birthday.
You see, if the foundation raises $250,000 in the Month of May, Glad will match that donation.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer announced a call to action for what they hope is a record number of bake sales in May to honor what would have been the 7th birthday of Liam Witt, the inspiration behind the cause. The Glad Products Company has stepped forward with a $225,000 match for all money raised by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sales in May. Reaching the full challenge would mean nearly $500,000 for pediatric cancer research.
Momma’s Gone City’s bake sale will be held the third week of May, venue to be announced. I encourage you to either get involved and hold your own sale, or if you are a brand that wants to get involved, I welcome and encourage your support as well.
Mother, dental school widow, fashionista. Suburban transplant adapting to life in Manhattan and loving it.
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Jessica- I want to be at your bake sale – anything I can do to help you!!!
Yes! Let’s partner up. Cannot wait to get this show on the road.
that’s so awesome to hear what you are doing. and i agree, my heart aches and loves for all children. xoxo
p.s. will there be a way that we can donate via paypal or something?
I am behind and am willing to support such a wonderful cause.
This is such a GREAT idea for such an important cause. I’ve been working with pediatric oncology patients for a few years now and LOVE this idea! If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.
We would love to bake cookies to help with your bake sale- I have an amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe and I am always looking for an excuse to use my mixer (that takes up too much counter space in our nyc apartment). We live on the uws and would be happy to come join y’all for the sale or we can try to organize one up here. What is the date in May?
I haven’t locked in a date in May, yet, but it will probably be the third week.
I’ll keep you posted! Thank you for your interest!
so happy to read this! an amazing mom advocating for children with cancer and showing that you don’t have to have children with cancer to care and do something about it. i hope your bakesale is a resounding success. i have two healthy children also, 2 yrs and almost 5 – we’ll be holding a bakesale may 14th on long island. thanks for posting this! just wonderful!
Jessica – I usually comment as “Chrissy MacCEO” from my personal blog – anyway, I want to get involved and hold a bake sale down here at the Jersey Shore through my online magazine for our area. Can you please email me more information on how I can get involved, and specifics I need to know!? Thanks!!
I would love and appreciate all of your involvement, and will absolutely keep you posted on how you can help and further details.
Thank you!
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