Ready, Set, Bake!
by Wendy Niles
Lake Mary’s Beth Robertson, manager of community outreach at the nonprofit Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, has a deeply personal connection to childhood cancer.
About 25 years ago, Beth’s son Cameron was diagnosed with liver cancer at just 13 months of age. Fortunately, Cameron survived and is now a husband with a family of his own in Oviedo.
But recently, the disease struck Beth’s family again when her grandson K.J. (the child of one of Beth's daughters) was diagnosed with cancer at the age of three. Tragically, K.J. succumbed to the disease when he was four years old, after a 14-month battle.
Cameron’s experience inspired Beth to become an advocate for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and its mission of funding research to develop new, improved, and less toxic treatments for pediatric cancers. The nationally recognized nonprofit does this in large part through its cookie sales and other fundraising events.
“I’m just grateful that I can use my voice and my story to encourage change,” says Beth, who has become the face of the organization in Seminole County.
Now she is inviting our community – including families, friends, businesses, and teams – to help the organization continue its lifesaving work for pediatric patients who are fighting cancer.
Be a Good Cookie
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer team is calling all bakers in the area to help raise awareness and fundraise for the cause.
The organization’s second annual Central Florida City-Wide Bake Sale is scheduled for September 5-7 at a variety of locations, while the inaugural Great Florida Bake Sale and Gold Ribbon Campaign (the symbol for childhood cancer) will be happening throughout September. Last year, Rock & Brews-Oviedo was one of the generous community partners that stepped up to support Cookies for Kids' Cancer, and the restaurant will be on the front lines again this year.
Although treatments and survival rates for childhood cancer have improved in recent years, the number of new cases is on the rise. More children die from cancer than any other disease, and 47 kids in the United States are diagnosed each day – yet funding and research do not keep pace with those sobering numbers.
The team at Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is working to change those statistics, so that no family ever has to hear that they are out of options in their fight. To date, the nonprofit has been part of more than 18,000 grassroots events, reaching across all 50 states and 30 countries. Its efforts have raised more than $23 million, which has supported 60 cancer treatments and more than 140 research grants.
And although September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, anyone can fundraise to help the cause at anytime of the year. Fundraising isn’t limited to buying or selling cookies, either.
This summer, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is encouraging the public to join its movement challenge (running, biking, or walking) to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Do-it-yourself fundraisers are another fun way to help the organization. Beth is standing by to assist the good cookies in our community who want to bring hope to those battling childhood cancer.