The Queen City Reigns
“If it takes a village to raise a child, it’s going to take the world to find a cure for pediatric cancer.”
In Charlotte, North Carolina, for a few hours on a rainy Sunday in December, it felt as though the whole world came together to bring an end to pediatric cancer, all inspired by one little boy with one big spirit - Grier Christenbury.
A happpy snowman greets Charlotte bake sale guests.
Grier, a 5 year old Charlotte native, was plunged into the world of pediatric cancer at age 2, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Quickly Grier’s family’s focus shifted from soccer games and school to chemo, radiation, surgery, clinical trials, and most of all, keeping the cancer far, far away from his growing body. And just as quickly, the Christenburys learned of the need for funds for new and improved pediatric cancer treatments. They hoped for new options with fewer long term side effects and risks as well as higher survival rates.
Happy hosts and hungry kids.
But hope alone is not enough in the world of pediatric cancer. Hope needs action. So, the Christenburys threw their support to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Grier’s mom Amy hosted one of the first Cookies bake sales in 2008 and planned to host another in late 2009. Then Grier was unexpectedly thrown back into battle last fall, and the focus, once again, became keeping the enemy at bay.
Nothing draws a crowd like kids!
When friends in Charlotte asked what they could do to help, Amy answered, “Host a bake sale.” And, did they ever. Four weeks, hundreds of sponsors, one radio interview and two local news features later, Amy’s friend Lesa Helbein and her team of tireless (and sleep deprived) volunteers pulled off the biggest single day bake sale in Cookies for Kids’ Cancer history, raising $15,000 in just 4 hours.
Cookies + Kids + Decorations = Happiness
The pictures tell the story of the holiday spirit that reigned over the Queen City on that rainy Sunday. Cookies, cupcakes, and kids with smiles greeted Charlotteans who ventured out to support the event, in the end proving that if we all do a little, together it adds up to a lot.
Kids enjoyed climbing on the fire truck.
Not every bake sale is this big, with this many supporters. But every bake sale - every single one - is crucial to the world of pediatric cancer. Every penny matters, every dollar helps. Rally the people of your village and register your upcoming bake sale today
Just a few of the hundreds of Polka Dots cupcakes!
