In the midst of holiday to-do lists and shopping and endless wrapping of gifts galore, there is a growing tradition here in Charlotte that captures the essence of what truly matters during the holiday season. It involves friends, family, fun, the spirit of giving, and most importantly, Good Cookies. The tradition is the 4th Annual Charlotte Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Bake Sale at Blackhawk Hardware. And this year, it’s a must for your Christmas event list.
Charlotte-native & Smarty Mom, Amy Christenbury, hosted her inaugural Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Bake Sale in 2008 to support the charity, newly launched by her “Cancer Mom” friend Gretchen Holt Witt. The two women met after both were thrown into the world of pediatric cancer. Witt’s son, Liam, and Amy’s son, Grier, were both 2 ½ when diagnosed with stage 4 pediatric cancer in 2007. They quickly learned that pediatric cancer claims the lives of more kids in the US than any other disease. One key reason for poor survival rates is a lack of treatment options for kids fighting the disease. And the reason for a lack of options: lack of funds. So when Gretchen launched Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, Amy was among the first to fire up the ovens to host an event. Her first bake sale raised $2,000, and she’s never stopped since then. To date, Amy and her friends, who host bake sales and events nearly year-round in Charlotte, have raised over $200,000 for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. And this December, Amy hopes to raise $100,000 in two days – in memory of Gretchen’s son Liam who came to the end of his 4-year battle with the disease this year earlier this year and in honor of her son Grier and kids everywhere who are fighting cancer.
Grier is now 7. To say he loves sports barely scratches the surface of his passion. He’s a true sports fanatic. And he loves to tell jokes. And Grier loves to hang out with his friends and his brother, Hayes, and sister, Grace. But 4 ½ years after his initial diagnosis, Grier is still fighting cancer. And 3 years after her first event, Amy is still raising funds for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer because events like her bake sales and other community events do more than just raise money for new therapies – many of which could help Grier or the dozens of other children in the Charlotte-area who are battling cancer right now. Amy’s bake sales give her family and so many others the HOPE they need to fight this relentless disease.
Join Amy and her friends on Saturday, December 3rd (10a-5p) and Sunday, December 4th (1-5p) at Blackhawk Hardware for their bake sale. Here are a few more reasons to join in the fun.
The Top 10 Reasons to “Be a Good Cookie” this holiday season and support the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Bake Sale:
10. Live Music to put you in the holiday spirit!
9. Two days of shopping at Blackhawk Hardware!
8. Hundreds of delicious treats to take home and enjoy for the holidays.
7. Kids activities!
6. An old-fashioned cake walk.
5. A very special appearance from Santa!
4. Community Blood Drive (Sunday 1-5pm) – give the gift of life.
3. Book signings by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer founder Gretchen Holt Witt – Saturday only!
2. Bank of America is matching 100% of funds raised at the Charlotte Bake Sale, up to $50,000!
1. Because your donation to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a gift of HOPE this holiday season.
