In February 2007, two-and-a-half-year-old Liam was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. A year and a half into Liam’s battle his parents, Gretchen and Larry Witt founded the nonprofit Cookies for Kids’ Cancer to raise funds to support the development of more effective and less toxic treatments for children with cancer.
Gretchen brought passionate urgency to her fundraising vision, and launched Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in a big way. She recruited more than 250 friends and volunteers — including many parents of children with cancer — to join her in creating a larger-than-life bake sale. Gretchen and her partners baked and sold 96,000 cookies within three weeks, raising $400,000 for pediatric cancer research. Liam’s story and the massive response to his parents’ mission galvanized the media. Though Liam tragically lost his battle with cancer in January 2011, the Witts remain committed to raising funds and bringing hope to kids battling cancer.
Woman’s Day, Traditional Home and O, The Oprah Magazine are among the publications promoting Gretchen’s ongoing work with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.
Thousands of people have joined the Witts in their mission. They support the nonprofit by holding bake sales, tag sales, golf tournaments and car washes, as well as by purchasing the cookies that Gretchen says are “as good to eat as they feel to give.”
