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In the Middle Cupcakes Supports Komen Foundation
August 25, 2011
By Mary Pechar
Last Sunday, August 14, over 30,000 people
participated in the Race for the Cure benefiting the Susan G Komen
Foundation. While the Race receives a
tremendous amount of publicity, many don’t realize that community efforts
continue throughout the year. Other opportunities range from designating a
portion of your Deal Bug purchase to the 1st Annual Breast Cancer Charity Golf
Tournament September 22 at Hillcrest Country Club.
Locally, Lee’s Summit’s In the Middle
Cupcakes will be offering two special cupcakes August 25-28: “Pink Lemonade,”
and — on Saturday only — “Peach Bellini.”20% of their proceeds will be donated
to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the name of cancer survivor Jodi Guess
Scuggs.
Supporting Scuggs is natural for In the
Middle owner Janet Cozza. When Janet and
her husband moved to Lee’s Summit three years ago, Scuggs, a pharmacist, was
one of the first people they met. One day Cozza mentioned a new business she
was starting baking and delivering made-from-scratch cupcakes from her home.
Scuggs became one of her biggest supporters recommending her cupcakes
continually.
“Despite no formal training in cooking or
baking, I have practiced hard to learn to make really good cupcakes, creating
my own niche of making every cupcake with something in the middle. Jodi has
been a huge help to my business and has continually supported us, especially
when we outgrew our home kitchen and opened our new store front in Downtown
Lee’s Summit,” Cozza commented.
Scuggs
— a six-year cancer survivor — is a regular participant in the Race
for the Cure. In 2009 she won Major
League Baseball’s Susan G. Komen Honorary Bat Girl essay contest, describing
How You Go to Bat against Breast Cancer.
Here is the text of Cozza’s essay:
1st
Inning: My 29th birthday I received the dreaded phone call from my doctor that
I indeed had breast cancer. The diagnosis was a Stage 3A tumor in my right
breast. Upon double mastectomy surgery, cancer was found in 11 of 14 lymph
nodes under my pitching arm. 2nd Inning: As my daughter was celebrating her 1st
birthday, I was beginning my 1st rounds of aggressive chemotherapy. Thank God
for baseball caps! 3rd Inning: Thanks to the support of family and friends that
rallied behind me, I completed chemo. Now with rally caps in tow, the troops
got behind me once again for a long inning of radiation. 4th Inning: I was able
to finish breast reconstruction with implants. What a relief to be finally put
back together. 5th inning: A year following treatments, I had large cysts on my
ovaries. Due to my history, the doctors recommended I have them removed. 6th
Inning: A total abdominal hysterectomy ended up being my fate. This was a tough
decision, as I really was thinking of having more children. Luckily, nothing
turned up malignant following this last surgery. 7th Inning: What a relief to
finally be in the 7th inning stretch. My body needed a break. I made the
decision to resign from my job after 6 years as a sales representative, so I
could be home with my toddler until she began school. How enjoyable to just use
this time to get well and be a mother. 8th Inning: My daughter is now in
Preschool. Therefore, I have gone back to work. I’m proud to say I’m batting a
thousand, as my scans prove me to be a breast cancer survivor of 3 1/2 years!
9th Inning: I’m now able to use that pitching arm again and throw to my 4 1/2
year-old in our backyard. What an honor to give her the same experience I had
at her age with my parents. I even remember my parents taking me to Kauffman
Stadium since I could walk to see George Brett in action. What’s more, we
continue to go back each year since then. Perhaps that spurred by love for the
game from Little League, High School, and College Softball (NCMC Lady Pirates).
My family and I also continue to bat against cancer in numerous ways. My sister
was captain for the “School of Walk” that raised money for breast cancer
research in Race for the Cure. My brother supports a yearly fundraiser to
support breast cancer research with his high school girls basketball team. I
share my story to whomever I can to give others strength to “shut-out” cancer
once and for all. It would be my dream come true to be honorary bat girl @ a
Royals game in support of this grand cause.......
Get
your cupcakes at In the Middle Cupcakes 318 SE Douglas. Hours Thursday through
Saturday are 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The doors close when the days’ baking is sold
out so come early. You may call
816.255.9851.
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