Let’s talk about Gretchen Witt, the cookie queen who started Cookies for Kids Cancer to raise dough for pediatric cancer research. Her cookie crusade began when her dear son battled cancer, and now it’s gone global. Locally, they’ve teamed up with Seattle Children’s Hospital, one of their seven awesome partners.
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Erica:
I hope this is the Cookie Mom calling in SPIRIT 105.3. Hi.
Gretchen Witt:
Hey Erica, this is Gretchen Witt. How are you?
Erica:
Gretchen! I am just delighted to meet you and so inspired by you.
Gretchen Witt:
Oh, stop. Thank you.
Erica:
You’re welcome.
Gretchen Witt:
It’s really nice of you.
Erica:
Well, I love having people who make a difference in this world on the show, and you are definitely one of them. The words, cookies and cancer, Gretchen, don’t usually go together. So, how did they become linked for you? Because
Gretchen Witt:
Nobody wants to think about cancer, especially cancer in children, but everybody loves to think about cookies, especially good cookies. And so, when I was in a period of time when my son was cancer free, I was thinking that I needed to do something to raise money and to help give back to other kids who were not as fortunate to achieve that milestone. And I was sitting on the steps of my son’s school thinking, what can I do? What can I do? What can I do to bring people into the conversation, and not scare them away? And I was like, I know the holidays are coming up. I will bake a bunch of cookies because nobody can resist a good cookie.
Erica:
Nope.
Gretchen Witt:
So that’s what started this odyssey.
Erica:
And you kind of enlisted a team. I mean, we’re talking, you all baked 96,000 cookies. Am I right?
Gretchen Witt:
Isn’t that crazy? I’m not a baker, by the way. I should point out I am not a baker. But yes, it was very strategic, because as I was sitting on the steps of my son’s school, I started thinking about what could I do that would really get attention and stop people in their tracks? And so, I started thinking about the number of families I knew who had children battling cancer. And at that point it was about 80 families. And I had also read a story that said that the average girl scout sells a hundred boxes of cookies. And so, I was like, okay, so 80 times a hundred is 8,000, 8,000 dozen is 96,000 cookies. That seems like a reasonable number.
Erica:
I mean, you used math to make a difference, so you have my admiration.
Gretchen Witt:
Well, lemme tell you, Erica, if I had known how hard it was going to be, I’m not sure that I would’ve done it, but at that point I felt like I could pretty much do anything, because we had rescued my son at the time from a disease that was trying to take him from us. And it was a grueling battle, but I really felt like I could do anything. And I also felt like, you know what? If I fail, so what? At least I tried and it’s better than not trying to do something. And so, that was really the whole genesis of it. Unfortunately, after another three years of battling, my son eventually lost his battle. But the very first treatment that we helped to fund with that 96,000 cookie baking odyssey became a therapy that kids receive today, seven months after he lost his battle.
Erica:
And I am so sorry about Liam. I mean, I know that he must’ve been a great kid and I know you’re going to see him again, which I’m sure gives you hope. But man. What kind of hope can you offer a mom or a dad right now who may be in a season of grief and loss right now, Gretchen, and it’s fresh? What would you say to encourage them?
Gretchen Witt:
First thing I would say is hang in there. One day at a time. One moment at a time. But the other thing I would say is that I didn’t want to feel like a victim. I wanted to feel like I was doing something to not only keep my son’s memory alive in my heart, but also to help other kids, which I knew was something that Liam would want me to do. And I think that when you’re going through that, you are feeling lost, and you’re looking for your community. And one of the things that was really important to me was to create an opportunity for people to feel part of a community, and feel like they are making a difference. And also, it’s about all kids everywhere. You notice the organization is not named after my son. It is not for my son. He is my inspiration. But this is something for any child anywhere with any one of the dozens of types of pediatric cancer. And I should share with you that this is something I didn’t know until my son was diagnosed. Not only is pediatric cancer the number one disease killer of kids in the us but the cancers that kids get are totally different than the cancers adults get. They’re called things like Rhabdomyosarcoma, DIPG, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma. These are specific to kids and therefore they need research specific for them. But we don’t fund one specific kind of pediatric cancer. We fund the strongest science, and we have a separate medical advisory board that reviews all of our grant requests from our partner centers, and uses the same criteria that the National Cancer Institute uses in deciding which ones have the strongest science behind them. And while I hope that it is the kind of cancer that took my son from me, it doesn’t matter because the heartache that I feel, having lost my child to neuroblastoma, is the same heartache that a parent feels who’s lost their child to another kind of pediatric cancer. What’s most important to me is to fund the strongest science that has the best chance of creating a therapy or a treatment that will make it to a child in the shortest period of time possible.
Erica:
It’s just so selfless and inspiring, so many different kinds of cancers and so many different kinds of cookies. I’m curious, what is your favorite cookie? What do you like to bake the best? And I love that you’re not a baker, by the way.
Gretchen Witt:
Honestly, this is probably the hardest question because to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever met a cookie I don’t like.
Erica:
Me too.
Gretchen Witt:
And I like all different kinds of cookies. I love the variety of cookies that are out there. I love everything from a delicate cookie to a hearty cookie to, you name it. There’s not one. I love cookies with filling inside of them. I love cookies that don’t have filling inside of them. I love decorated cookies. I love gingerbread cookies. Again, for me, it was more about creating something where people could eat cookies and get involved. And there’ve been over 16,000 grassroots events in all 50 states and in 26 countries. And that’s the thing that just amazes me.
Erica:
Okay, what you just said, first of all, could be turned into a Dr. Seuss book. I mean, right. Maybe you guys should write a book about cookies. Ithink that would be great. But I love this because there’s something about when somebody makes you cookies and you receive that plate, it’s like they’re saying, I love you. I’m excited that we can actually share cookies with somebody and help kids who are battling cancer. I just think that’s amazing. Is there a story of a child who you’ve been able to help Gretchen, that just bubbles up in your mind right now?
Gretchen Witt:
There’s so many. I mean, that’s the thing is there are so many, but I think that the number one that just reduces me to tears every time I hear it is about Aiden Brown. And if you go to our website, you can see Aiden’s story. But Aiden has received several treatments that we’ve helped to fund. And at a point in time when he was not given much hope, we were there with treatments that were available for him. And he is now a senior in high school and he is applying to college. And he is just an amazing, amazing young man. And I see my son when I look at him, and I see his future and it just inspires me to no end. And I’m so grateful to have been given… And that sounds crazy because I lost my son, but I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue to honor him by helping other kids.
Erica:
God bless you, Gretchen. Gretchen with Cookies for Kids Cancer. Thank you for being with us here on SPIRIT 105.3. And I just want you to know you are amazing and you are loved.
Gretchen Witt:
Thank you. Thank you. And by the way, in your area, Seattle Children’s, is one of our partner centers.
Erica:
I love knowing that. Tell me more.
Gretchen Witt:
So we have seven hospitals that are partner centers that get the majority of our funding. And in your area, Seattle Children’s is our partner center because they are just killing it in terms of advancing research that is helping kids today. So, just know as your listeners listen to this, the dollars that are raised in your area, stay in your area, because they go back to Seattle Children’s.
Erica:
Okay. That’s amazing. And what is your partnership with Seattle Children’s like? Because from what I hear, they’re heroes.
Gretchen Witt:
I mean, talk about some of the most inspiring, amazing, creative ingenious researchers. I mean, what a blessing to have Seattle Children’s in your area. And they are doing some amazing work in brain cancers and brain tumors. It’s just incredible. And Dr. Nick VanTanza is a fairly young researcher, but just so inspiring. So, we’re really lucky that we get to work with amazing people like him. But again, it’s not us who, in terms of the organization, we’re not making the decision about where the money should go. He is the one who received grants from us, from a review of his peers, his esteemed peers, who deemed his science as cutting edge, and something that needed to be funded.
Erica:
Oh, it’s just wonderful. That just warms my heart. I’m a big fan of Seattle Children’s. So that is just great to hear. Thank you for adding that. And thank you for your time, Gretchen. Let’s talk again.
Gretchen Witt:
Thank you for the opportunity.
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