Throughout the month of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, you can join Kneaders Bakery and Cafe in their Hope Fights Childhood Cancer campaign. Like many others, I have lost dear family to this disease, including a beloved uncle just last month. While I haven't been personally impacted by childhood cancer, it is a disease that over 16,000 children are battling everyday in the United States and it sadly claims the lives of 2500 children every year. I am proud to be one of over 50 VIP Ambassadors supporting the Kneaders Hope Fights Childhood Cancer Campaign in their efforts to raise funds and support for Dr. Schiffman, who is exploring how elephant DNA might hold the key to ending cancer for children throughout the world.

Through September, Kneaders Bakery and Cafe will be selling elephant-shaped sugar cookies in their 58 stores throughout seven states (while supplies last). One hundred percent of the cookie sales will support Dr. Schiffman’s innovative research with Kneader's #hopefightschildhoodcancer campaign.

Why elephants? Dr. Joshua Schiffman, teen cancer survivor and renowned Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist and cancer researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah, was part of the team that discovered elephants have 40 copies of a cancer-fighting protein called p53 in their DNA which may help protect elephants from cancer. Humans only have two copies of p53, and some children that get cancer only have one copy of p53 in their DNA. Since discovering the power of the elephant p53 protein, Dr. Schiffman and his research team have been working around the clock to bring the discovery to human trials in the fight to end cancer for people of all ages.

“We know that almost all elephants should be developing cancer - they are almost 100 times the size of people, 100 times as many cells dividing decade after decade. Elephants live 50, 60, 70 years and what elephants have done, we believe, is they’ve actually made extra copies of a cancer-fighting protein. That protein is a gene called p53. Humans have two copies, while elephants have 40. The elephant cancer-fighting protein is a little bit more powerful than the human p53, it looks like it’s a little bit more effective at killing those cancer cells.” - Fox News Channel 13, Salt Lake City, Utah

Listen to Dr. Schiffman talk about the cancer-fighting protein p53 and the innovative work he is doing at the Schiffman Lab located at Huntsman Cancer Institute:

Along with the sale of the elephant cookie, Kneaders will also offer custom elephant-themed campaign retail items in 58 stores and online at Kneaders.com/hope. Throughout September, you can donate to the campaign to help them meet their goal of raising $300,000 for cancer research. Visiting your local Kneaders location to support this campaign? You'll also have the option to round-up your purchase at the register, or make a cash donation.

Learn more from Kneaders as they explain why this Hope Fights Childhood Cancer campaign is so important:

JOIN US AS HOPE FIGHTS CHILDHOOD CANCER - A LITTLE HOPE CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT
Did you know that elephants have 40 cancer fighting proteins in their DNA which means they rarely get cancer? Did you know that humans only have two cancer fighting proteins in their DNA? Kneaders Bakery and Café is proud to be part of the pioneering research of Dr. Joshua Schiffman, world-renowned Oncologist, Hematologist, teen-cancer survivor, and respected cancer researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute. He is exploring how elephant DNA might hold the key to ending cancer for children throughout the globe.

WHY IS THIS CAMPAIGN IMPORTANT TO KNEADERS?
Learning that our grandson, Tanner, had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015 was heartbreaking. Where there used to be laughter, sports, and activities with friends, Tanner’s typical teenage life turned into overnight chemotherapy sessions at the hospital, painful radiation treatments, and doctor appointments. Every day of Tanner’s life was spent trying to survive and every day we were faced with the real possibility that he might not win his fight. Although Tanner is now cancer-free, we will never forget the profound challenge of surviving an overwhelming and rare disease. We are proud to support the monumental research of Dr. Schiffman.
– Gary & Colleen Worthington, Founders of Kneaders Bakery and Cafe

No matter who you are, cancer is impacting a friend, family member, coworker, or child in your community. Regardless of how the disease attacks, the struggle to fight and survive remains the same. We have been personally impacted by cancer in our Kneaders family and it is our hope that you will JOIN US in our unique mission to be part of a SOLUTION to CHILDHOOD CANCER. We “knead” your help in this effort. A little HOPE can have a BIG impact. For more information, go to kneaders.com/hope or call our home office at 801-221-7064.

Disclosure: I received a gift basket of items to share in supporting this campaign.

Help Support Kneaders Bakery & Café's Hope Fights Childhood Cancer Campaign