**Edit: The bidding is now over.**
Congratulations to Diana (thetreadmilldiaries.com) for bidding $100 for the fudge babies! All of the money will go to support Cancer Research. Thank you so much to everyone who bid!
Sounds kinda backwards, doesn’t it? No, I’m not talking about that controversial (and super-creepy) movement to legalize cannibalism as a means of ending world hunger and overpopulation. Today, I have a much yummier proposition for you:
If you could choose any one of the many Fudge Baby Flavors, which would you pick?
Above, the Sex Bomb Babies.
Do you want a batch of fudge babies—in the flavor of your choice—delivered right to your doorstep?
My friend, Tina, of the famous Carrots ‘n’ Cake blog, is one incredible, selfless girl. She and her husband are raising money—through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training—to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma in all individuals who are battling these blood cancers.
What Tina’s doing is big; she’s running a marathon to bring awareness, and she’s also set a goal of raising $12,000 for the worthy cause. I so admire her extraordinary efforts, and I want to help, even if it’s in a small way. Therefore, I’m donating a batch of my babies to be auctioned off for what Tina and I are calling the “Last Chance Bake Sale.”
To bid on the fudgies, donate, or simply see Tina’s fabulous blog!
All funds raised from the Last Chance Bake Sale will go directly to Team in Training to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All bids must be emailed to christina.haupert@gmail.com. Go bid your heart wallet out! Remember: don’t think of it as paying an exorbitant amount of money for a batch of raw fudge treats; think of it as making a generous donation in support of a great cause… and you get a free batch of fudge babies as a bonus. I’ll throw in a cute Africard too! 🙂
My personal connection to the cause:
When I was in high school, I started a charity called “Project Pillows.” (I’ve mentioned it on the blog a few times before.) Through Project Pillows, I sewed hundreds of “comfort pillows” for kids going through Chemotherapy at a hospital in Dallas. Often called chemo, bar, or bone pillows, comfort pillows are used during the Chemo infusion process to make patients more comfortable. And the hospital I worked with was a lower-income hospital, so many of the kids kept the pillows afterwards—like their own stuffed animals. (I made sure to pick out cute fabrics—animals, Barbies, cars, etc.)
I’m not going to get into personal stories, out of respect for the kids’ privacy, but I was privileged to meet some incredible children. I was always amazed at how positive these kids were; how they were still able to get up and face each day, often with smiles on their faces. Which brings me to the question of the day: it isn’t a lighthearted, silly question today. But sadly, life is not always happy-go-lucky. Pretending the tough stuff doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.
Jessica says
This post hit home for me, Katie. My mom has battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma twice. Thank you for helping this worthy cause! 🙂
Molly @fuelherup says
I think the paper you’re talking about (which I just had to read for a class) isn’t an ACTUAL movement- it was meant to point out that you can justify just about anything. We had to write our own follow-up paper, and mine was about how we should send the elderly into war to drive tanks and fly planes instead of endangering younger people. Obviously I don’t actually think that 😉
Molly @fuelherup says
I also meant to say that Fudge Babies are seriously delicious but I was caught up in my nerd-rant 😉
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
LOL that’s good to know! BUT THERE IS a facebook group, devoted to cannibalism, making the same claim 😕
Ilana says
Did you ever read Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”? Swift wrote fantastic satire responding to the political and social conditions in England in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s (Gulliver’s Travels!!), and in “A Modest Proposal,” he suggests that poor Irish families should turn to eating their children to stem the hunger crisis and to better society as a whole.
http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html
I read this when I was fourteen and it changed my life.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I haven’t… but I loved Gulliver’s Travels. Thanks for the link; I’ll definitely check it out. I’m always interested in new reading material, especially by authors I already trust.
Marina says
You are an angel Katie, seriously.
My dad died from lung cancer. Actually, after the surgery that went well… It was always amazing to see how he stayed positive, for himself, and for his family.
I can imagine how kids are, full of hope and happy thoughts.
I hope Tina raises all the money!
abby says
oh that is so sweet! yes i think everyone must know someone who’s had cancer. it really is oe of the scariest diseases out there.
Anonymous says
I’m going to go check out Tina’s website and training cause now! Thanks for the link.
Lauren @ WWoB says
Not to be extremely depressing on the interwebz, but my dad passed away from lymphoma. So clearly, this particular team is meaningful to me. That is also why I want to go into researching antioxidants (and how we can prevent and/or treat cancer through our diets). 🙂
Jennifer - jcd says
Wow, people who go out of their way to help others like this warm my heart. Way to go! You an an inspiration! (We partake in several projects of our own.)
My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year. At only 50, he is extremely young to get it. Thankfully, the doctors performed some robotics-assited sugery and he is 90% recovered and fully cancer-free now. It’s amazing what doctors can do!
I also had a cousin who had leukemia when she was younger. That was scary, but she made it through and is an active adult now. She has some lingering post-cancer health conditions (such as hemophelia), but we are all happy she can live a normal life now.
People with cancer, and their families, are forever grateful for the little things people do to help them out. My cousin still has her Care Pillow, it means a lot to her. Little things DO add up.
Lisa says
Yes, I had a good friend who had cancer when we were in high school. Thankfully it went into remission, but you can’t ever be sure it won’t come back, and that’s the worst part of the disease. You could be fine one day and then it might come back the next even though the doctors said you were in the clear.
Caitlin says
I read a book in elementary school (can’t remember the name now) about a girl who gets cancer. I remember I cried for days, and then I started a little collection and raised like $100 (which is a lot for a little kid). It really had an impact on me. Before that, I don’t think I knew what the disease was, or that young people could get it.
Katie, you are truly inspiring. And Tina is inspiring as well. I’m going to check out hr blog for sure :).
Melissa says
I think I read those same books! In the ones I read the girl went to a summer camp for kids with cancer and I always thought that was a great idea!
40apples says
What a wonderful thing to do – the pillows! And continuing to help such a great cause with the Babies is awesome.
One of my best friends died from leukemia in 8th grade, and one of the most powerful ways I found to move through and past the immense grief was to feel like I could contribute to the efforts to research, prevent and treat cancer. It’s amazing what we can do for the cause in our own capacities.
Anonymous says
Those sexy babies look so good! What’s the bidding at? I might have to nibble!
Valerie says
Katie, what a sweet gesture to make those babies and offer them up for charity! I really hope you raise a ton of money. I’d bid my left arm for a batch of homemade fudge babies from you. If only I lived in the US!
Melissa says
At the risk of sound like an ass, I can’t donate to L&LS due to their animal testing.
It’s a horrible illness and I want to support people of all ages fighting it, of course.
For other vegans who feel this way (it’s lots of us, I imagine?) maybe we could do a fund drive for a different charity that also helps those with this disease and do it in the name of the original fund raiser?
Here is a cruelty free one, for example. 🙂
http://www.lymphomahelp.org
I’d love to donate to this charity in your honor, Tina.
Or I REALLY like the idea of donating pillows/stuffed animals that are homemade. I also crochet and hats for adults might be nice, too. I think kids get a lot more consideration in that regard: adults might want a warm cozy piece of homemade love, too. 🙂
VEGirl says
Mellisa, I totally agree with you. It IS a horrible illness, and NO ONE, including children, adults, rats, mice, monkeys, or other animals should have to suffer through it. What is your email? You can send me one at contactvegirl @ yahoo dot com to talk something out.
VEGirl
Melissa says
Sent!
It’ll be coming from a @wholefoods.com email addy
JoLynn-dreaminitvegan says
How sweet of you Katie, to take the time to do the pillow project.
My grandpa died when I was 5, from lung cancer, he smoked.
Courtney (greeneyedrunner) says
you’re a doll for doing this! i did a season with Team in Training, and it was the best experience of my life!
Sora says
I was actually diagnosed with cancer this summer, so seeing something like this absolutely puts a smile on my face. Thank you so much for putting your time and heart into helping people. It makes such a difference every single day. :]
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Wow, thank you, Sora, for being so open and sharing. You’re in my thoughts and prayers. Just keep that smile on your face; I know that the kids I met who didn’t let Cancer get them down always seemed to heal the quickest and had the easiest time of it. Not that anyone’s time was/is easy with Cancer, but smiling seemed to make a world of a difference.
Love (and chocolate!!), Katie
eatinglikeahorse says
What a lovely thing to write coming from where you are Sora. Lots of love and best wishes x
Eleanor
thedelicateplace says
this is a great idea! i’m a fan of the basic fudge baby (dusted in cocoa)
spoonfulofsugarfree says
I, fortunately, do not know anyone who has suffered cancer. Amazingly…But I feel terribly for those who do. What an amazing cause! I will definitely check out the cause and website!
I actually have a very good friend whose mother died of leukemia when my friend was five years old (before I knew her).
And Katie, I would love to know more about your Project Pillows! I feel like I need to do/give something more of myself somehow…
EmbraceYourSkin says
Project Pillows sounds amazing, Katie.
I wish I had money to give, but alas, I am poor 🙁
Little Bookworm says
Great post Katie, so sweet of you to donate some fudge babies to the bake sale! Project Pillows sounds like a great idea as well!
Kiki says
Katie, you are such a sweetie 🙂 My grandpa has cancer, and although he’s in remission right now, it’s good to know that there are so many people like you working to make sure no one has to suffer like he did.
eatinglikeahorse says
I interviewed an 8-year-old girl and her mum for my paper because she had been in remission from a horrible bone cancer for a year.
She’d had to have her whole thighbone taken out and replaced with a titanium prosthesis so she still had her own leg but a new bone. She and her family had gone through 18 months of her chemo which was just horrific. Then, just as she was starting to walk without a limp, she fell and broke a bone in the same leg.
They truly were the most inspirational people I’d ever met. She (the little girl) had sold loads of her own stuff to raise money for the hospital that treated her and on the way to give it in, dropped a penny. Her mum said: “Don’t you want to keep your lucky penny?” And she said, patting her leg, “No, I’ve had my luck – I want the other children to have it now.”
I nearly cried my eyes out there and then! Thank you for such a lovely post x
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
That sounds like it could be a line in a movie. It’s just another example of what I saw all the time: these kids are amazing.
eatinglikeahorse says
It was and they were such a lovely family.
Also, how could I forget, the chocolate-Brazil nut Fudge Babies are still the winners for me!
Eleanor (at a new “home”!)
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
My father had cancer when I was younger and my aunt has it now. I’ve also known quite a few people with skin cancer and one of my best friends has oral cancer. It seems like it hits everyone at some point whether we can help it or not..I mean my grandmother was 95 years old before she passed away and even she had cancer towards the end…it’s a horrible disease. Luckily more and more is being done every day to hopefully one day find a cure 🙂
Anne@ Food Loving Polar Bear says
You’re such a good person, Katie. I have lost my grandmum to breast cancer and my step-grandmum also had breast cancer but is a survivor.
Rachael says
I love the sentiment behind your Pillow Project – I do a storytelling round at my local hospital, and I’m always amazed at how positive the kids are…any touch or fuzzy bit to make them feel more at home, empower even more positivity, is spot-on.
My mom’s in remission from lung cancer, but I remember the “this can’t be happening” feeling I had when she was doing poorly – truly a jarring couple of months, and I’m down for anything which works towards preventing those kinds of moments!
Tricia says
You’re so nice! I’ve been lucky enough to not have a family member die of cancer, but my grandpa has mild skin cancer and my grandmother had throat cancer, but she’s in remission, i think. So, keep them in your prayers. Also, i love your fudge babies– especially the cookie dough ones 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh Tricia, they will definitely be in my prayers.
Jamie @ Food in Real Life says
It’s people like you that help make the blogging community such a warm place. My Uncle had blood cancer, and my grandmother passed from colon cancer. I ran a race in her honor on September 11th. Its important to do whatever we can!
emma says
Hi sweetie! I just came across your blog for the first time and I’m so glad I did because it’s great! Making the pillows is a wonderful and touching thing to do. Two of my closest friends have been affected by cancer – one had Hodgekins and the other, who had a brain tumour, sadly passed away at the young age of 24. I think it’s brilliant what you are doing x x x
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh wow, thank you so much, Emma. I’m so glad you found me!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
This is such a great post and concept, Katie! And I been part of team in training a few years ago and ran a race with them. And also have sponsored a few friends who have done 100 mile bike rides with Team in Training. Such a great cause, and your pillow sewing = amazing!!!
🙂
loveeatnowafter says
katie ur kinda amazing..but im sure u already know that 🙂
my dad battles stage 4 lung cancer. while in college i sometimes forget about that battle that he cannot escape and has to fight for every day. Sometimes when im away from home its so easy to get caught up in my own life i just forget about it. thanks for this wonderful reminder. u are doing something so wonderful and for such a great cause!!
(ps. this is lena from the former blissfulbellas- ive created a new blog so im under a different name)
the pillows thing is such a heartwarming touch! young or old, cancer is such a terrifying ordeal. i cant imagine having to go through it at such a young age. its so great that there are ppl like you who think to do these things. a pillow, which we all sleep on every nite, seems like no big thing but it can really create such a warm atmosphere and wonderful sense of safety for a child whose ill!
thanks katie for doing all that you do!!
-Lena
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hey Lena! Thanks so much for being so open. And please know that I’m putting your dad in my prayers!
Moni'sMeals says
Really impressive Katie. Way to give back and yes what Tina is doing is just awesome.
BTW, you nailed the name of those babies, sex bomb babies is right!
I think just about everyone knows someone who has or had cancer, really upsetting…
Nicole says
Katie,
Is there a template on your blog for the project pillows? I’d like to get my daughter’s Girl Scout troop interested.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Eek, I’m going to show my cluelessness with technology now: What’s a template? 😕
Nicole says
Maybe I used the wrong word! LOL Sometimes I do that!! A pattern is what I should’ve said. Where can I find the pattern? Thanks!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh LOL I thought you meant some kind of blogging template ;).
Anyway, I actually don’t use a pattern. Here’s another confession: I don’t know how to use a sewing machine! (Well, I know a bit, but I’m certainly not good at it.) I do all my pillows free-form, just cutting two squares, sewing them almost completely inside-out, then turning right-side-out, stuffing, and finishing. They’re not uniform in size or shape, but the point isn’t for them to be perfect. It’s the thought that counts :).
Amy says
Hi Katie,
I love your blog, and this post really hit home for me too. I lost my mom to lung cancer just a few years ago when I was in college, and my dad now has skin cancer. I’m in grad school right now doing oncology research, and some of the research in our department is funded by LLS. Every little bit that people can do to help is so inspirational and awesome! Thanks for being such a positive voice!
-Amy
Jess says
This post definitely hit home for me. My Dad battled (and almost lost) with Duodenal cancer. It’s a rare cancer that he was given a less than 10% chance of surviving. His tumor by the time they discovered it was the size of a softball. They told him he would likely die during surgery, and if that didn’t kill him the complications from losing part of his pancreas would, and if that didn’t kill him, the chemo would. He survived, which is a total miracle.
Things are still stressful for us though now with the hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills, and that’s with insurance covering a lot of it, as well as the constant fear of him relapsing. Yet we’re all extraordinarily grateful that he survived.