Cookies raise dough for cancer research

SALEM – For seven years, Swampscott?s Marc Hazel, president of Jacqueline?s Gourmet Cookies of Salem, has been a committed supporter of Cookies for Kids? Cancer, an organization founded by Gretchen Holt-Witt.Initially, Hazel and his cookie team wanted to embark on a project to develop refrigerated cookie dough, and along the way they found Holt-Witt, who was looking for dough to bake so that she could hold a bake sale to raise money for childhood cancer.The rest fell into place.Saturday, Hazel and Holt-Witt teamed up to host an event that not only honored her son Liam and other children suffering from pediatric cancer, but to volunteer and help with the distribution of packaged cookies. Hazel looks forward to more of these bake sales, where the money made will be donated to funding for a cause that will save the lives of children around the world.Hazel, who joined his mother, Jacqueline, in Everett, where the cookie company first started, was just looking to help out, and, eventually, he turned that into a profession. Twenty years later, Jacqueline?s Gourmet Cookies serves freshly baked morsels to a number of places across the U.S.?It?s been a real passion of mine and my family?s for years. We?re just doing what we love,” said Hazel.A board member of CFKC, Hazel was touched by Holt-Witt?s determination to make a difference in the way the world approaches childhood cancer by raising funds to support research. Holt-Witt?s son Liam sparked the willingness inside her to help after his battle with neuroblastoma, and that same willingness traveled along to Hazel who “just wanted to contribute” to the cause.?We see young children who pass away at such a young age – the more you can give of yourself, especially to these kids who are struggling with different cancers, truly feels good.” Hazel said.Each year, almost 100,000 children under 15 die of cancer – amounting to nearly 250 a day, which makes pediatric cancer the No. 1 killer of children in the United States.Hazel?s hope for the organization that Holt-Witt has founded is its continued growth and ability to inspire future bake sales to happen across the world. Echoing the words of Holt-Witt, Hazel said, “every day we have to make a difference.”