Cookie Dough For Cancer: Northbrook Teen Raises $1K

NORTHBROOK, IL — Fighting breast cancer is very important to Jolie Strelzin. The 13-year-old Northbrook teen watched as two close family friends needed mastectomies in 2020 due to the disease. A cousin also has battled breast cancer. All that, combined with the loss of an aunt to pancreatic cancer and the challenges of living in a pandemic, really have had an effect on an anxious Strelzin, according to her father, Mark.

"Making the cookie dough made me feel very proud of myself because I was able to do something good for others and it made people also want to do something to help out with breast cancer," Strelzin said.

Starting from scratch, Jolie Strelzin began making cookie dough and selling it for $5 a container. Mark Strelzin said the entire idea was his daughter's. She created four different flavors, and handled all the details pertaining to baking, sales, pickup/delivery, labels etc. Amazingly, she has raised more than $1,000 for breast cancer.

The project has also been part of Jolie's bat-mitzvah preparation with an obligation to make acts of loving kindness.

"Breast cancer is very serious and affects so many people around the world and I was hoping to do something to help," Jolie Strelzin said.