Sep. 9: Mom Loses Child and Finds Mission

In 2007, Gretchen Holt-Witt of Califon, New Jersey, was a working mother of two when she learned that her two-year-old son, Liam, had cancer.  Though the war on cancer has received a lot of publicity, potential cures for childhood cancers have received little funding, so the boy’s treatment options were limited.

Holt-Witt decided to make a small effort that would help raise money for pediatric cancer research: she would bake and sell cookies through a website that a friend created called CookiesForKidsCancer.org.  When word of her mission spread, hundreds of volunteers got involved.  What started as a modest effort led to 96,000 cookies being sold in three weeks, netting more than $400,000.

Though Liam passed away in 2011, his mother’s efforts continue, so that other parents may some day not have to deal with the pain of losing a child to cancer.

“I have to spend my time making sure that when I see [Liam] again, I can tell him that mommy did everything she could to make it better for others,” Gretchen says.

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we

will reap at harvest-time.  (Galatians 6:9)

Lord, bless the efforts of volunteers everywhere.