Please read the article from the Santa Cruz Patch!
Warrior Mamas took the spotlight Saturday night at the 3rd Annual “Mamas Night Out.”
These are women who have helped their families battle cancer and helped raise money to battle the disease.
The fundraiser was organized for the third consecutive year by Cara Pearson and Michelle Riddle, committed supporters and key fundraisers for “Cookies for Kids” Cancer. All funds raised from the benefit support “Jacob’s Heart,” and “Cookies for Kids” Cancer, a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer research founded in 2008 by Larry and Gretchen Witt, after they sadly lost their son Liam to Neurblastoma.
Kristin Cosner of Scotts Valley was one of the honored “Warrior Mamas” at this years event. After her daughter Gabriella was diagnosed at the age of 4 with Rhabdomysarcoma in March of 2012, Cosner shares that she felt like she was in a nightmare state that she couldn’t wake up from. She was also shocked to learn that Pediatric Cancer was frightfully underfunded.
“I … learned about the complete deficit in funding for all 12 major types of childhood cancer receives less than 4% of the total NCI (National Cancer Institute) budget,” says Cosner.
Determined to do something, Cosner began “Team G Foundation.” With the support of her and her husband Adam’s CrossFit Group and CrossFit West, along with family and friends, plans for a fundraiser obstacle course and blood drive in honor of G were put into action. Motivated by the success of the event, Cosner vowed to continue this support for others even after Gabriella finished treatment.
“Team G” provides both starter packages for families of newly diagnosed children at pediatric hopitals across the nation and also raises funds for clinical trials for pediatric cancer research. Learn more at: www.teamgfoundation.org/our_mission/
“Through all my years of life I’ve played many roles and have tried to find my passion in each and every one,” declares Cosner. “I’ve finally found my true calling and my mission in life.”
When ‘Warrior Mama’ Angela Farley learned the devastating news that her son Charlie was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, Pleuropulminary Blastoma, she was extremely disheartened to learn that there is absolutely no money being funded for research on this type of cancer.
“They just look at the closest ‘kind’ of cancer and throw at it what they think makes sense, but they don’t really know what works,” explains Farley. “The drugs they throw at childhood cancer are mostly for adult cancer cells. They are 30 years old and they still aren’t sure they work.”
“Cookies for Kids” Cancer funds those much needed clinical trials that continue to go unfunded by our government, says Farley. Additionally, “Jacob’s Heart” was the first support system that really helped our family deal with the tragedy, develop a plan for managing care, gas cards, weekly check-ins with a social worker, and therapy for our Charlie and our other son’s feelings.
The idea for “Teen Kitchen Project” flourished after a friend donated a years worth of Gayle’s ‘Blue Plates’ to our family. Having good quality food during a crisis was a huge relief, explains Farley. Soon after, friends of Farley introduced her to the “Ceres Community Project” out of Sebastopol, a volunteered program involving teens as the chefs and connecting them to service by cooking nutritious foods.
The Ceres Project agreed to train an apprentice organization at Farley’s request, while she assembled a team of chefs, volunteers, drivers and teens which have now served over 3,000 meals to families in crisis due to illness in Santa Cruz County through “Teen Kitchen Project,” founded by Farley. www.teenkitchenproject.org www.facebook.com/TeenKitchenProject
All the Warrior Mamas at the event got a chance to share their stories of survival and sadness through video presentations. They were all honored at the event and their presence highlighted the fact that illness can strike any family at any time. The unspoken theme of the evening implied, pediatric cancer knows no boundaries and demands much needed attention. It is the number one childhood killer in the U.S.
‘Lights of love’ luminaries dedicated to loved ones whose lives have been darkened by cancer, illuminated the entry way into a elegant sea of extensive raffle tables loaded with over 75 high priced items, delicate white lights, dainty baked goods, handmade jewelry, well-known clothing lines, photography booths, glitter tattoos, hair extensions, several extensive buffet tables, and more.
The attendees of the “Mama’s Night Out” benefit didn’t have to justify spending dough and buying raffle tickets. The bittersweet event was a win-win as mamas celebrated a great cause, danced all night, and gave support to much needed awareness and funding for “Cookies for Kids” Cancer and “Jacob’s Heart.” www.cookiesforkidscancer.org www.jacobsheart.org
Contributions were made by local business sponsors including Top of the Ritt, Epic Wines, Louie’s Cajun Kitchen, Pacific Cookie Company, Nordic Naturals, SC Builders and Harbor Medical Group.