ENMU student holding bake sale to benefit children with cancer

For one Eastern New Mexico University student, a cartoon-watching session with her son turned into an effort to raise money for children with cancer.

Marissa Hyde, a sophomore in public relations, is organizing a Heritage Days bake sale in conjunction with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, an organization that contributes money to pediatric cancer research. As far as she knows, her bake sale will be the first for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in Portales.

“Because I’m a mother, I’m thankful every day my son isn’t sick,” she said. “But I can empathize with those parents whose children are sick.”

Hyde said she wanted to make things easier for parents of ill children. She also said there are fewer medications for and less research on cancer in children than with cancer in adults, and it takes more time to adjust dosages of adult medication to treat children with cancer.

Although she knows the goal is high, Hyde aims to raise $5,000. If she doesn’t reach her target, she said, it can be a goal for next time, because she hopes to hold regular Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sales.

The campaign began when Hyde was watching cartoons with her 3-year-old son about three months ago and saw a commercial about Glad partnering with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. She was interested in the concept and researched it.

When Hyde graduates, she would like to work for a charity, she said, so she thought she might as well get started.

“For my first charity, it looked like something I could do myself,” she said.

Hyde registered with the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer foundation and talked to Mayor Sharon King, who suggested a booth at Heritage Days on June 19 at City Park. She has also been looking for volunteers to contribute baked goods to sell and so far as about 30 individuals and groups interested.

“I’ve had a lot of help,” Hyde said.

Several people on campus and her mother have assisted with publicity and other jobs. Hyde’s mother, Donna Woolley, said she had used her copier and taken things to the printers to help her daughter.

“We always support our children, whatever they do,” Woolley said. “And it was a good cause.”

Since her family returned to Portales, several children in town have had cancer, Woolley said.

Also, she likes the idea of a bake sale because contributors receive a token of their support.

“I know people are very generous with their money, but sometimes a little symbol of what they’re doing makes it more personal,” Woolley said.

To volunteer: [email protected]