I've seen passion played out in many places recently.
I watched as Michelle Obama spoke passionately about her husband, declaring him courageous, strong and capable of carrying our country another four years.
I've read about a new favorite band excited for the release of their newest album.
I've seen people post about their favorite NFL and college football teams on Twitter.
What would our lives be without passion?
But nothing compares to the passion that I felt this weekend in Richmond, Virginia at a citywide bale sale event benefiting Cookies for Kids' Cancer.
I'd been working for Cookies for about three days when I got asked to make the trip to Richmond to meet the founder and to visit the bake sales to see what the organization was all about. I was excited to road trip up there and had an idea of what to expect, but my expectations were quickly exceeded.
Beginning three years ago, a group of moms decided to begin raising money for Cookies for Kids' Cancer after hearing the founder's story. The founder, Gretchen Holt Witt, had experienced the loss of her son to pediatric cancer. Simultaneously, she began the organization in order to be able to fund pediatric cancer research-- research that simply could not happen because of lack of funding. Cancer claims the
lives of more children annually than any other disease " more than
asthma, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis & AIDS combined.
A group of women in Richmond, Virginia heard Gretchen's story and immediately wanted to help her make a difference. They wanted to hold a bake sale. But citywide. With over 35 locations and 1 day, the group has raised over $135,000 in just three years.
I got the opportunity to go visit this citywide bake sale this weekend and I was in awe at how passionate these individuals were. I met mothers whose children are currently going through chemo. I met mothers whose children are in heaven and yet, they passionately continue to fundraise for this cause. Nothing can quite compare to the motivation you feel just witnessing first hand what their strength looks like.
Most of these bake sale hosts got little sleep this week in preparation. They put labels on bags of cookies, painted homemade signs, strategized new ways to communicate the cause and, ultimately, raised more money than last year for Cookies.
I'm not a mother. Nor have I experienced cancer the way these mothers have. But from experiencing this citywide bake sale, I am motivated and energized to begin my work. I'm excited to become just as passionate as these folks in Richmond. Fired up and ready to make a difference.
I feel as if the greatest emotion one can feel is passion because it means you are living your life and living it to make a difference, to do good. Whether you are passionate about being a teacher or passionate about driving a truck, both are important and necessary to make this world a better place.
What's your passion? What drives you?
Cookies for Kids' Cancer is a national organization that just this year, has given over $4 million to fund research trials. With just one small bake sale, you can make a huge difference in the life of a child.
Interested in holding a bake sale? Want to learn more about Cookies for Kids' Cancer?
Visit our website at www.cookiesforkidscancer.org.
Follow us on twitter and instagram: @cookies4kids.
Like us on Facebook.
"So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming -- or
even impossible -- let us never forget that doing the impossible is the
history of this nation." -- Michelle Obama
