Everyone knows that good causes and Charlotteans go hand and hand. Charlotte has proven that it is full of ‘good cookies’ by raising more money per capita for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a national non-profit dedicated to raising much needed funds for pediatric cancer research, than any other city in the U.S. Beginning September 1st, 30 local businesses will donate a portion of their proceeds for one given day of the month to the organization during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
During every day in September, Charlotte-area businesses are raising funds for and awareness of pediatric cancer research. The inspiration behind the effort is local first grader, Grier Christenbury, and the ‘little warriors’ also battling the disease. Grier is a 7 year old from Charlotte who has been battling Neuroblastoma, a type of pediatric cancer, since the age of 2 1/2. He is currently undergoing treatment. “We wanted to recognize his fight and all of the children like him who live in our area by making every day during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month to be a day to come together to raise money and awareness,” explained local event organizer Lesa Helbein.
“Many of us are guilty of not taking the time to enjoy what is already right in front of us – our family and loved ones. So, in honor of these families, we are offering 30 different opportunities to spend time with family and support research for pediatric cancer, the disease the claims the lives of more children than any other,” Helbein continued.
There is a wide variety of ways people can get involved from eating at a favorite restaurant to shopping at a local store to even getting a haircut. All money raised will be directed to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer to fund much needed pediatric cancer research.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was founded by a Meredith graduate, Gretchen Holt Witt, a mom inspired by her son’s courageous battle with pediatric cancer who also battled the same type of cancer as Grier Christenbury. After learning that cancer is the United States’ number one cause of death by disease in children under the age of 18, due in large part to a lack of funding for research into new and improved therapies, Witt was determined to do everything in her power to change that fact. She decided to make it her mission to raise funds for new and improved therapies for childhood cancers through the concept of local bake sales. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is not about one child or one type of pediatric cancer. It is about changing the facts of pediatric cancer for the better, forever. Forty-six children are diagnosed with cancer every school day and 13,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States alone. Survivors of childhood cancer face a broad range of physical and psychological challenges imposed by the disease, and many will suffer its long-term effects for the rest of their lives. Despite these statistics, there has only been one drug developed specifically for pediatric cancer in 20 years.
To learn how you can support CFKC, visit www.cookiesforkidscancer.org.
To learn more about “30 Days for a CURE!”, go to www.gogriergo.com or visit us on Facebook, you can find us at Cookies for Kids’ Cancer-Charlotte. Here, you can find all of the events that we are working on in and around the Charlotte area throughout the year.
