Cookies With Purpose: Radiating Stories, Raising Awareness, One Bite at Time

What began as a heartfelt response to my college best friend Maddee's colon cancer diagnosis in 2023 has grown into something bigger than I ever imagined. Feeling helpless while she fought her battle, I channeled my energy into creating a special cookie set that honored her western spirit while raising awareness for colon cancer. The response was overwhelming - 120 dozen cookies sold in just 24 hours, raising $4,000 for cancer research. Each year, more stories poured in, confirming what we already knew - we were shining a light on a critical issue. This year we are sharing three powerful stories.

The Faces Behind Our Fight: Three Women's Journeys with Colon Cancer

Maddee Moore

Maddee's Story

I turned 35 in winter 2023 with big plans - renovating our new house with Nick, taking it down to the studs because insulation is important. Maybe getting married, running cattle, and advancing my career. If I was really lucky, a real vacation too. Then life took a hard left turn.

I started to have a pain in my side in September. I thought that's strange, but it went away and I moved on. Then my seatbelt kept irritating that same area. Fast forward, a pain in my right side was keeping me up at night. Next thought, it had to be my IUD. I had that removed, I can't say it got better, but the pain didn't get worse. My doctor said she didn't think that was the cause of the pain but wasn't sure what else it may be. Therefore, it had to be my IT band. And man, I am out of shape. I had gone back to CrossFit and thought I just needed to stretch more.

Adding all this together, I always needed a nap. Like a three-hour coma type nap everyday. Of course, I thought it's my hormones. Nope, some quick testing by another doctor stated I was super anemic. Strange, but ok. She recommended with my random stomach pain to see a gastroenterologist and quickly as I could.

AND ALL OF THAT HAS LED TO A STAGE THREE COLON CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

This is the face of a person who was completely clueless that they were living with cancer. I didn't have standard symptoms, but I knew something was off. I know I am fortunate because I stayed at it trying to figure out my pain.

Madison's Story

I discovered I had stage 3 colon cancer at 36, barely a year after my son was born. It started with severe stomach pain after some takeout - pain that reminded me of labor. I brushed it off as food poisoning or postpartum recovery. When it happened again months later, followed by blood in my stool, I knew I needed medical help.

My physician assistant suggested a high fiber diet. I remember mentioning an article I read about rising colon cancer rates in people under 50, and I wish now that I would have pushed for a gastroenterologist referral. When the diet didn’t help, I advocated firmly for myself and insisted on a referral. The colonoscopy revealed the shocking truth: a tumor nearly blocking my colon.

The diagnosis blindsided me - no family history, a new baby, and suddenly I was the fourth

person under 40 with colon cancer my surgeon had seen that year. After my colectomy to remove the tumor, I learned it had spread to my lymph nodes, requiring 12 cycles of chemotherapy. Had we caught it earlier, chemo might not have been necessary.

Julie's Story

At 37, I dismissed the signs as just part of a busy life with three kids. The midday crashes on the couch, parenting with one eye open - that was just mom life in fall 2023, right? Lower back pain? Must be age. Weight gain and night sweats? Probably hormones or perimenopause. Constant fever? I had kids - germs were normal. Digestive issues? Surely just food intolerance.

But Christmas Eve changed everything. Unable to climb the stairs to wrap gifts, struggling to breathe or think clearly, I finally admitted something was wrong. An urgent care visit led to an emergency blood transfusion - my hemoglobin level of 3 had put me in critical condition. The ER doctor pointed to anemia and suggested following up with my OB/GYN. Too weak to push for more tests, I just focused on surviving.

Weeks later, I woke up from a colonoscopy to hear the words no one expects: "It's cancer and it's big." A stage 3C diagnosis shattered my world. How would we tell our kids? But we went to work - port placement, an oncologist with a plan, immunotherapy. Now, I'm still fighting, but treatment is working. I see light ahead. I'm back in the barn, helping with homeschool math, but I'm changed forever. We all are.

Why This Matters

Colon cancer is rising rapidly among young people, often with subtle symptoms that are easy to dismiss. Through these cookie sets, we're not just raising funds - we're sharing stories that could save lives. Each cookie is designed with purpose, representing the strength and journey of these remarkable women.

Join Our Fight

On March 1- sold out,, during Colon Cancer Awareness Month, we're offering special cookie sets that tell these women's stories. 50% of all proceeds go directly to colon cancer research. But more than that, we're building awareness, one cookie at a time. ORDER HERE

Remember: Listen to your body. Advocate for yourself. Get screened. Early detection changes everything.

CHECK YOUR COLON.