A Bake Sale for Liam

Published on Thursday, January 27, 2011, by Meredith Arthur / Edit Post

I met Gretchen Holt Witt back when CHOW was a print magazine; before CNET bought CHOW and Chowhound. She was (still is) marketing director at OXO, and she helped us get behind the scenes there, when we shot the Perfect Mandoline video.

Gretchen is also the founder of an amazing nonprofit called Cookies for Kids' Cancer. Four years ago, her then-two-year-old son, Liam, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Through the course of his illness, she learned that pediatric cancer is one of the most underfunded of all cancer researches. That it is the number one disease that kills kids. And that there might be cures on the horizon, if only there were the funding to reach them. So she set out to get that funding, with the simple idea that bake sales, a lot of bake sales, could raise money for research. Cookies for Kids' Cancer raised $1 million last year, through bake sales, donations, and selling cookies online.

Liam died earlier this week, and I can't stop thinking about him. His goodness radiates from his photos, as does his mother's love for him. CHOW has an amazing community of bakers, food-lovers, and cookie-eaters. If this is a cause that touches your heart, please consider hosting a bake sale for Cookies for Kids' Cancer. Or consider sending their cookies to a friend. Or just donate to the cause. There couldn't be a more worthy one.

Gretchen, Larry, and Ella, our hearts go out to you.

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  • I was one of Liam's nursery school teachers. Our staff pushed up our sleeves and held a Cookies for Cancer Bake sale one beautiful, sunny day this past October. Not only did we deeply band together as a group, over the course of the day we met amazing people -- cancer survivors, people who wanted to learn more, families who radiated love and held their children a little tighter, small children...+READ

    I was one of Liam's nursery school teachers. Our staff pushed up our sleeves and held a Cookies for Cancer Bake sale one beautiful, sunny day this past October. Not only did we deeply band together as a group, over the course of the day we met amazing people -- cancer survivors, people who wanted to learn more, families who radiated love and held their children a little tighter, small children who emptied their piggy banks, older children who treated their friends. It was one of the most life-affirming experiences of my life. What we got back so exceeded what we put in in terms of time and effort - and - guess what? We raised $8,000 for pediatric cancer research! Who knew a cookie could be so strong? Please consider hosting a bake sale. It could be in a park in your town, an apartment complex, your back yard...anywhere. Come on - be a good cookie and become part of the cure. No child should have to suffer as Liam did.-COLLAPSE

  • No doubt that Liam's passing is a tragedy and also a reminder of how helpless we are in defending our children in the battle against cancer. The only thing we can do as parents and concerned people is to buy cookies and donate to pediatric care research. If you are in the Anchorage, Alaska area, please look out for an upcoming bake sale being held at Middle Way Cafe on April 30th for a chance to...+READ

    No doubt that Liam's passing is a tragedy and also a reminder of how helpless we are in defending our children in the battle against cancer. The only thing we can do as parents and concerned people is to buy cookies and donate to pediatric care research. If you are in the Anchorage, Alaska area, please look out for an upcoming bake sale being held at Middle Way Cafe on April 30th for a chance to support this cause and reach out to people and families who are going through or have suffered losses from battles with cancer.
    -Love your children.-COLLAPSE

  • This is truly a wonderful cause. Pediatric cancer is a tragedy no family should have to endure, and Liam, Gretchen and family have been tremendous through it all. There is always a huge bake sale in Richmond in September (9-10 this year), and I encourage you to arrange your own or donate to the cause. You can also read a little more about Liam here:...+READ

    This is truly a wonderful cause. Pediatric cancer is a tragedy no family should have to endure, and Liam, Gretchen and family have been tremendous through it all. There is always a huge bake sale in Richmond in September (9-10 this year), and I encourage you to arrange your own or donate to the cause. You can also read a little more about Liam here: http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2011/01/25/sleep-sweet-prince/-COLLAPSE