Monday, July 18, 2011

May Bakes sales SET a record for CFKC!

We did it! Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Supporters Set Fundraising Record in May.

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 8:08 am July 18, 2011
COOKIES FOR KIDS’ CANCER SUPPORTERS UNITE TO MAKE MAY 2011
THE ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST FUNDRAISING MONTH ON RECORD
Events raise over half a million dollars and achieve largest match from longtime supporter
The Glad Products Company
Califon, NJ – July 18, 2011 Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and The Glad Products Company announce today that May 2011 was the biggest month on record in the organization’s nearly 3-year history with the most bake sales held and the most money raised in a month. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a national non-profit organization committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18 in the US. Founded by Gretchen and Larry Witt who were inspired by their son Liam’s courageous battle with cancer, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer inspires individuals, communities and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer through the concept of local bake sales.
During May, more than 300 individual events combined to raise over half a million dollars in donations to the organization. The achievement was inspired by what should have been the 7th birthday of the Witt’s son, Liam, on May 13th.  Known to many as Prince Liam the Brave, Liam came to the end of a courageous 4-year battle with cancer in late January. What followed was a call to action from both the organization and longtime corporate partner The Glad Products Company to honor Liam’s birthday and to inspire support for the fight against pediatric cancer. Glad stepped forward with the promise to match funds raised at bake sales in May up to $225,000. This match represents the company’s largest single donation to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in the shortest amount of time. Because of the match,   Cookies for Kids’ Cancer’s total income for May, counting both the event donations and the Glad match, totaled more than $750,000. 
“As a way to honor Liam and inspire people to join the cause, Glad held our largest match since we began supporting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in 2009 in the shortest window of time,” shared Molly Steinkrauss, Public Relations Manager for Glad Storage Products. “It was inspiring to see how friends, families, communities and even strangers came together to help Cookies for Kids’ Cancer raise more money and host more bake sales in one month than ever before.”
 “We are humbled by and grateful for the goodness of people who host Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sales. And we are especially thankful to Glad for their ongoing support in the fight against pediatric cancer,” says Gretchen Holt Witt, founder of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. “Each day, our mission is to not only honor Liam’s love and passion for life but also to keep alive his desire to take care of others. We do this by supporting new, safer treatments for pediatric cancer, because every child deserves the chance to grow up. We already know children who are benefitting from treatments funded by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Every effort counts, and every dollar counts.”
The news of May’s record-breaking success comes on the heels of the organization’s announcement of $700,000 in grants to top pediatric cancer research centers, with plans to grant more funds again in September during pediatric cancer awareness month.
About Cookies for Kids’ Cancer: 
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was founded by parents inspired by their son’s fight against cancer. Today pediatric cancer remains the number one disease killer of children in the United States, due in large part to a lack of funding for research into new and improved therapies. Through the concept of local bake sales and online cookie sales, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer inspires individuals, organizations, and businesses to join in the fight against pediatric cancer by raising the funds and awareness necessary to change the facts of pediatric cancer and provide more families with the hope they deserve. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer grants funds raised to leading pediatric cancer research facilities including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Center. For more information, visit www.cookiesforkidscancer.org. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cookiesforkidscancerand Twitter www.twitter.com/cookies4kids.
The Glad Products Company
The Glad Products Company is wholly owned subsidiary of The Clorox Company.  The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,300 employees and fiscal year 2009 revenues of $5.5 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers’ most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Green Works® natural cleaning and laundry products; Armor All® and STP® auto-care products; Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces; Brita® water-filtration systems; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; and Burt’s Bees® natural personal care products. The company’s products are manufactured in more than two dozen countries and sold in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $77 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2009 alone, the foundation awarded $3.6 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $7.8 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.

Friday, July 15, 2011

I am going to keep this update short and sweet... I have a feeling the more I ramble today the more chance I have of getting in trouble... I am just a little frustrated with the politics of childhood cancer.... YES, there are even politics involved in this &^%$!

Grier went to the clinic not once but twice on Tuesday... and surprisingly without fussing about having to go the second time after I had already told him we would go to the pool.  Our first trip was very early on Tuesday so the lab could process  the results in the hopes that IF he counts were good enough we could get the process going on getting the drug to our house from PHILLY by Wednesday. We got the news that he counts had recovered enough to start MLN again... so we had to go back and get his height and weight done and some other labs... well, as soon as we got there I got an email saying all they (CHOP) needed was height and weight... so we numbed up his port for nothing.  After a few more emails that day we were set for a FedEx delivery of Grier's pills.... AND Wednesday am before 10-- JUST like CHOP said.. we had a box on our porch! Hmm... amazing to me... how easy they seem to make this process even though they are so far away! So far, Grier has taken the pills for two nights... no side effects yet.. and if it is anything like the last time than we will not see anything until closer to the end of the 7 days. The biggest complaint is timing... Grier is a "grazer" so finding a three hour window of NOT eating or drinking is a little hard-- but again if that is the only issue right now I will take it!

The other news is that the cookie.. or "millionaire shortbread" that won the cookie contest is ready to be purchased at any of the STOMP, CHOMP, and ROLL restaurants, (Moe's @ Northlake, The Pizza Peel, The Flying Biscuit @ Park Road Shopping Center and Stonecrest), and Monkey Joe's @ Park Road Shopping Center) The proceeds from the sale of this cookie will benefit Cookies For Kids Cancer from now until the end of September. We will have our 30 days for a cure again this year during September so we are glad to get started raising some "dough" for CFKC a little early with the sale of this winning recipe..... Stop by one of these places and get it as dessert or "to go"-

Nothing else to report... Grier and I will go to Philly for one night during the first week of August to do an MIBG for his disease evaluation. Summer is going by... the change of pace has been nice but I am almost ready to welcome back a routine.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

We woke up on Saturday morning and decided since we had NOTHING on our schedule... or actually on the kids' game schedules we would surprise them with a quick day trip.... This really never happens... so we packed up, found a hotel room and got some braves tickets and were on the road by 11am! It was a fun trip... ok, a little exhausting but fun because we were all together-- I told Jeff 24 hours was all I could handle in tight spaces like that--- and I wasn't kidding!!!


The calm ride :)
Turner Field-- HOT!


26MPH-- throwing batting practice :)

Georgia Aquarium





The fourth of July was fun as always.. I am not sure why but that is one of my favorite Holidays....  I saw the fireworks on TV from NYC and I think we need to make a trip there next time... :)


On Tuesday, we woke up early.. and went to clinic for some blood tests.. we went early so the results could be faxed to CHOP and we could find out if Grier was ready to start MLN on Wednesday... well, after much delay... the LAB was BUSY- :) we finally found out that Grier's counts were not heading up but DOWN again.... We still had to wait on his ANC because that number was not ready yet -- so we waited and waited... FINALLY I heard that is was 300-- he was nutrapenic again!!! He needed to be at least 1000 to start the drugs. After a few emails to CHOP -- they called to assure me they are not worried about these delays... and the fact that his counts are on a roller coaster ride!!!  They mainly want him acting well and told us we can wait it out - So, Grier and I go back to the clinic tomorrow for a CBC to see what the numbers tell us tomorrow!

Other than our spur of the moment trip, fireworks, and clinic visits, the other big news was that Grier lost his second top tooth... so he has a cute gummy smile to go along with his dimples!

He found the SHARKS!
We actually were scheduled to be in Philly next week for an MIBG scan... but since we have had these delays that schedule is going to have to change. Hopefully we will have a start date soon for MLN....
( as always.. go to gogriergo.com for pictures....) I need help with moving this blog to wordpress... ANYONE???? Needs a little updating :)

toothless smile!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Another week...


This past week has been low key in terms of activity.. BUT the conversations that Grier and I have had in the car dropping off Hayes at baseball or as he is winding down and about to fall asleep have surely made up for the lack of activity. If you know Grier at all you know he likes to chat... Especially if he feels comfortable with you. Even these conversations surprised me and trust me we do a lot of talking. This first conversation started off with questions..he actually announced that the had a question like he usually does.

Grier: mom, I have a question?
me: okay.. What is it?
Grier: Do I have cancer?
Me: (in my head.. Really do we have to have this conversation as I am driving?)
Me: YES
Grier: why did you say YES like that?
Me: like what?
Grier: ( he mocked my Yes)
Me: I didn't think I said it like that..
Grier: Am I a good cookie?
Me: yes.. A really good cookie!
He started singing The Lazy Song and that was the end of the conversation..

The second part.. Different day.. Almost the same questions..

Grier: mom, do I have cancer?
Me: yes, didn't we just talk about this?
Grier: what exactly is cancer?
Me: well, you have some cells in your body that are not healthy..
Grier: oh..
Me: it is called Neuroblastoma
Grier: oh.. Like the Go Grier Go magnet..
Me: yes..
Grier: mom, don't you think we should get new magnets because I really like soccer lot better than baseball now!
Me: no.. I think we are out of the magnet business!
Then he proceeded to ask me if so and so had cancer.. Going down a whole list of his friends from school.

Clearly he is processing this again.. He is seven going on 70! He knows he has cancer and that is why we go to the doctor a lot but that is so normal to him ...




The seven finalists... the winning cookie is the one sprinkled with powered sugar.. Million Dollar Short Bread by Jane Cole~



The end of our week shifted from questions to raising awareness for Cookies For Kids Cancer.. I have been very protective of Grier and don't do a lot of TV spots with him.. We had been approached by the Stomp Chomp, and Roll restaurant group to have a cookie recipe contest and the winner's cookie would be placed on the menu until Sept. 30th at their various restaurants. Our hope was to have Gretchen come be a judge for us, but she was not going to be able to. So, Grier was going to represent Cookies For Kids Cancer.. It always makes me a little nervous but lately he has been into this kind of stuff.
Today we had the 25 recipes narrowed down to a group of 7. We had 5 judges, including Grier. They all tasted each cookie and rated it on taste, creativity and appearance. Grier was sitting by Kathleen Purvis from the Charlotte Observer. She help him rate his cookies, from what he told me he was a tough judge.. He likes soft cookies because he has another loose tooth so his favorite was the Oreo pudding cookie. He informed me he does not peanut butter.. So that cookie must not have gotten a high number from him.. And he liked the cookie my mom made but it was Hard and hurt the his loose tooth.. And had almond in it! I almost could not stop laughing when he told me what he thought! I am so proud of him for doing this.. I had to ask to him a question... I asked him if he knew why we were doing these cookie events.. And he said so we call help the doctors find better medicine. Whew... I know It is a work in progress but I was excited to know that he know we are raising money for doctors helping kids fight cancer.

To read Kathleen Purvis's blog she wrote about the cookie contest... click here

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – A Charlotte cookie judging contest is planned for Friday afternoon, July 1st.  One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit Cookies for Kids' Cancer.
The winning cookie will not only help generate funds to help find a cure for childhood cancer, but also be placed on the menu at a handful of popular Charlotte restaurants: The Flying Biscuits on Park Road and Stonecrest, Mama Fu's, The Pizza Peel and Monkey Joe's. 
 All money raised from the sale of the winning cookie until September 30th will benefit Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a national organization with an active branch in Charlotte.

Anyone is invited to the cookie judging contest on Friday.  It kicks off at 2:00pm at The Flying Biscuit in Park Road Shopping Center.

One of the five judges is 7-year-old cancer survivor Grier Christenbury.  He helped preview the event live on WJZY's News at 10:00 with Anchor Molly Grantham.  Click the attached link to see how things played out. 

GO STEEL FAB!

GO STEEL FAB!

Go Grier Go Magnets are Here!

Go Grier Go Magnets are Here!

Grier's address in NYC

Grier Christenbury
Ronald McDonald House of New York

405 East 73rd Street

New York, NY 10021

Before 3F8

Before 3F8

After 3F8

After 3F8
30 minutes later

Free Money for Go Grier Go!.. just by shopping online!!

iGive.com

Grier leaving NY-pres and going back to MSKCC

Grier leaving NY-pres and going back to MSKCC
www.cornellpediatrics.org-- Great hospital!

Grier going for a ride in the ambulance across the street

Grier going for a ride in the ambulance across the street
just transporting-- not an emergency!

Grier patiently waiting surgery to remove tumor

Grier patiently waiting surgery to remove tumor
Monday 10/29/07

Go Grier Go Picnic in the Park

Go Grier Go Picnic in the Park
Thanks to everyone that helped!!!

On the way to NYC!

On the way to NYC!

Grier at the "new" clinic at CMC

Grier at the "new" clinic at CMC
Playing with the doctors and nurses 10/19/07

Some of our team at the Hopebuilders 5k

Some of our team at the Hopebuilders 5k

HOPE IS GOOD!!

HOPE IS GOOD!!

Supersib- GRACE

Supersib- GRACE

SuperSib-- HAYES

Grier and his Wonder Pets fly boat cake!

Grier and his Wonder Pets fly boat cake!
I am 3!

Grier & Grace at Covenant

Grier & Grace at Covenant

Grier & Pat

Grier & Pat

Go Grier Go!

Go Grier Go!




Jack and Charlie wearing Go Grier Go T's

Jack and Charlie wearing Go Grier Go T's