The Greatest Baker And The B+ Foundation

You Don't Have To Be A Parent To Imagine The Pain Of Losing A Child.

It's a straightforward thing that even the cruelest, most selfish of humans can imagine. Even people who loathe the thought of children with the entirety of their existence know that when a parent does lose a child it's the most devastating thing in the world. I'm confident when I say that almost everyone (save for sociopaths and psychopaths) could empathize or sympathize with the mere thought of losing a child, to anything.

"When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family is. It has so many ripple effects with siblings, and parents, and grandparents. We want to make sure we are there for everybody." - Carly Bergstein - Executive Director of B+

The creation and birth of the B+ foundation is tragic and sad. In the title video, it explains that it was created by the sudden diagnosis and loss of a young 14-year-old boy named Andrew McDonough. He was healthy, played 4 games of soccer on a Saturday. Then suddenly he was in the hospital, diagnosed with leukemia, sepsis, aneurysm, and heart failure.

His blood type, come to find out was B positive. And his sister took that and made it into a slogan for him since that was how she and her family had viewed Andrew. He was always smiling and positive. A force of joy and his sister protected him by making it a rule, via a hand-drawn sign on his hospital door: "You are only allowed in here if you are going to BE POSITIVE!"

He died 167 days after his resuscitation in the hospital. He died in the arms of his 16-year-old sister, with his parents in the room, watching over him.

I watched my son take his first breath on September 3rd, 1992. I was the happiest man in the world. On July 14th, 2007, at 1:55 P.M. I watched Andrew John McDonough take his last breath, in the arms of his 16-year old sister. Childhood cancer stole my boy from our family. Joe McDonough - Founder of B+ Foundation.

And now Andrew and his family are a lifeline for other families who have a pediatric cancer patient fighting for their lives.

A family who turned their grief into positive power has become a lifeline for children all over America. There are children who are alive and healthy today because of the B+ program. And then there are the families who share in the pain that Joe McDonough (founder of the B+ foundation and Andrew's father), his wife, and daughter experience, and the B+ foundation is STILL there for them, even after the tragic ending. Each year, the B+ foundation raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support families across America, fighting the fight against childhood cancer.

Cake Boss Buddy Valstro brings his sweet pizazz to this foundation once a year, by teaming up with the B+ foundation and Silpat and Flexipan to bring in thousands of dollars for children across America by hosting The Greatest Baker competition.

In my previous article that I wrote last year while participating in this competition, I mentioned that in 2021 Malia came into the contest as a 14-year-old girl who was fighting against cancer. She won, and she was able to follow her dreams before she died in 2023. Andrew and Malia are just two out of hundreds of thousands of reasons, why competitions like this are a big deal.

I never forget that I am so blessed. My children are healthy, loud, active, spoiled, and perfect. For now anyway. Cancer can come at any time, and childhood cancer sneaks up on you in fatal ways. That is why I participate in this contest and for a couple of months a year, I put aside my social awkwardness, and beg for people to vote for me for free once a day using Facebook.

I love baking, and that $20,000 prize would be nice - but I don't do it to win, I do it to spread awareness and raise money for the B+ foundation.

One day, I could need the B+ foundation. I PRAY that I never do. But it COULD happen. It has happened to hundreds of thousands of families across America. Every day, mothers and fathers are told that their children are fighting for their lives - and they most likely will not make it much longer. It happens every day, and I am painfully aware that my children are not exceptions to reality, no matter how perfect they are. If that day ever comes for my family, I want to know that the B+ foundation is still growing stronger every year.

I know times are hard for people everywhere, so I reserve asking for paid votes for when they have the sales and promotions. And I don't mind borderline DEMANDING that my close friends take 30 seconds of their day to put in a free vote for me, to keep me in the running as long as possible so that I can raise as much money for these kids and their parents for long as I can each year.

Today, I am asking anyone who reads this article to put my Greatest Baker Profile vote on your schedule every day for the next few weeks.

I am also asking you to share this article on every social media you can and spread the word. Education and knowledge are powerful, and if I am being honest, I don't really care if you vote for me, or buy votes for me, you could buy them for ANY of the bakers in the competition. It won't matter, because, at the end of the day, the money is going to the correct place: To the families who need help.

If you are a baker - registration is still open. Voting has JUST started, but it's not too late to get in there! Bake, have fun, and help us in our fight, and raise money yourself. Maybe even win!

PS: If any of my vocal or medium peeps are part of the Greatest Baker competition, feel free to drop your voting link in my comments and I will vote for you too!

I don't expect to ever win this competition if I am being honest with everyone. I am self-taught and the unicorn cake I made for Marlee's 3rd birthday kind of looked like a zombie duck. I'm not trying to win for the wrong reasons, because I am very much aware that my baked goods do NOT belong in a famous magazine.

While winning is not my goal, I DO have one for this competition. I've decided that this year I want to help raise at least $1,000 from my votes total this year for the B+ foundation before I lose traction and get knocked out of the race.

And of course, for the devils out there with a chip on their shoulder - if we need to bargain, I've got plenty of favors I can grant and cash in for your votes. ;)

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and from the bottom of my soul, thank you to anyone who votes for me and helps me achieve my goal!

Find my fictional fantasy book "Memoirs of the In-Between" on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and hardback.

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