Casey Cares Foundation Family Featured on CBS Evening News
Nine year old Eric W. lost his battle with cancer in 2006. His identical twin brother, Aaron, has had a difficult time coping. His pediatrician suggested that he focus on what he loves doing most - baking. Aaron recently started baking cookies and is donating a portion of the proceeds to help the Casey Cares Foundation, a charity who helped Aaron and Eric's family throughout Eric's illness. The story will be featured this Friday, Feb. 27th on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Baltimore, MD, February 27, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Baking For His Brother: A Twinless Twin learns to Cope
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Dear Casey Cares,
The money in this envelope is for you, because I would like to really thank you for all that you've done for my family. I hope that with my business that I can help you and other charities to expand and help others with what they do.
Sincerely,
Aaron Ware
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Eric Ware of Prince George’s County, Maryland, first came to the Casey Cares Foundation, a non-profit that provides uplifting programs for critically ill children and their families, in 2004. At the age of six, doctors at Children’s National Medical Center had diagnosed Eric with a brain tumor. Eric soon began chemo and radiation treatments, and although they seemed to help, doctors had trouble getting rid of the cancer completely. The battle raged on for two years until Eric tragically lost his fight with cancer in October of 2006.
What does this have to do with Aaron? Aaron and Eric were identical twins. Can you imagine losing someone born at exactly the same time as you, who looks exactly the same as you, and who was your partner-in-crime since the moment you were born? It was hard enough for the staff of Casey Cares to let go of Eric after only seeing his family at Casey Cares parties and getting to know them over the phone planning activities that they requested.
“Anyone who has met the Wares can tell you that they are a special family,” said Erin Webb Ritter, Casey Cares’ Development Director. “When the Casey Cares Foundation burned down in 2007, they were some of the first people to call us and ask how they could help. Our Foundation has grown so close to the Wares, and the loss of Eric was greatly upsetting for all of us.”
That was just the reaction from Casey Cares. It is hard to imagine how overwhelming it must be for Aaron to be a twinless twin.
"He says that there is a hole in him," Angela Ware, his mother, told us. "I don't doubt him."
Although Aaron struggled with the loss of his brother, his spirits began to turn around one day after a visit to his pediatrician, Dr. Marilyn Corder. They were talking about what he liked to do, and his face lit up when he began to talk about baking. So she gave him a job -- create a baking company.
That was the beginning of Doughjangles -- Sweets by Aaron. His first investor was none other than Dr. Corder herself, who handed him $20 on the spot to get his company started. Since then, Chef Aaron's business has flourished. He made over $60 in profits last Christmas alone, and just had another bake session for Valentine’s day. He sells his creations for $1.00 a piece, and his favorite cookies include chocolate chip, Butterscotch Dream and Black and White.
The amazing part of this story is that Doughjangles is not just a hobby to distract Aaron from losing Eric. Instead, it is his ultimate gift in remembering Eric. When his mom asked him what he wanted to do with his profits, Aaron told her, "Save some, spend some, buy more supplies, and give some. I want to give to the people who helped us when Eric was sick. They helped us a lot."
In January of 2009, Aaron made good on his pledge to help those who had helped his family. Accompanying the opening letter was Aaron’s first $10 donation for the Casey Cares Foundation. The Casey Cares staff was touched that at such a young age, and after all Aaron had been through, that he was able make such a selfless action.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how important that $10 is to me,” says Casey Baynes, the Founder and Executive Director of Casey Cares. “Most people focus on the impact that Casey Cares has on our families, but it’s incredible how much the families impact us as well. This is just one of those moments I will never forget.”
Aaron Ware’s baking business will be featured this Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. The show will air at 7:00 p.m. ET.
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-------
Dear Casey Cares,
The money in this envelope is for you, because I would like to really thank you for all that you've done for my family. I hope that with my business that I can help you and other charities to expand and help others with what they do.
Sincerely,
Aaron Ware
---
Eric Ware of Prince George’s County, Maryland, first came to the Casey Cares Foundation, a non-profit that provides uplifting programs for critically ill children and their families, in 2004. At the age of six, doctors at Children’s National Medical Center had diagnosed Eric with a brain tumor. Eric soon began chemo and radiation treatments, and although they seemed to help, doctors had trouble getting rid of the cancer completely. The battle raged on for two years until Eric tragically lost his fight with cancer in October of 2006.
What does this have to do with Aaron? Aaron and Eric were identical twins. Can you imagine losing someone born at exactly the same time as you, who looks exactly the same as you, and who was your partner-in-crime since the moment you were born? It was hard enough for the staff of Casey Cares to let go of Eric after only seeing his family at Casey Cares parties and getting to know them over the phone planning activities that they requested.
“Anyone who has met the Wares can tell you that they are a special family,” said Erin Webb Ritter, Casey Cares’ Development Director. “When the Casey Cares Foundation burned down in 2007, they were some of the first people to call us and ask how they could help. Our Foundation has grown so close to the Wares, and the loss of Eric was greatly upsetting for all of us.”
That was just the reaction from Casey Cares. It is hard to imagine how overwhelming it must be for Aaron to be a twinless twin.
"He says that there is a hole in him," Angela Ware, his mother, told us. "I don't doubt him."
Although Aaron struggled with the loss of his brother, his spirits began to turn around one day after a visit to his pediatrician, Dr. Marilyn Corder. They were talking about what he liked to do, and his face lit up when he began to talk about baking. So she gave him a job -- create a baking company.
That was the beginning of Doughjangles -- Sweets by Aaron. His first investor was none other than Dr. Corder herself, who handed him $20 on the spot to get his company started. Since then, Chef Aaron's business has flourished. He made over $60 in profits last Christmas alone, and just had another bake session for Valentine’s day. He sells his creations for $1.00 a piece, and his favorite cookies include chocolate chip, Butterscotch Dream and Black and White.
The amazing part of this story is that Doughjangles is not just a hobby to distract Aaron from losing Eric. Instead, it is his ultimate gift in remembering Eric. When his mom asked him what he wanted to do with his profits, Aaron told her, "Save some, spend some, buy more supplies, and give some. I want to give to the people who helped us when Eric was sick. They helped us a lot."
In January of 2009, Aaron made good on his pledge to help those who had helped his family. Accompanying the opening letter was Aaron’s first $10 donation for the Casey Cares Foundation. The Casey Cares staff was touched that at such a young age, and after all Aaron had been through, that he was able make such a selfless action.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how important that $10 is to me,” says Casey Baynes, the Founder and Executive Director of Casey Cares. “Most people focus on the impact that Casey Cares has on our families, but it’s incredible how much the families impact us as well. This is just one of those moments I will never forget.”
Aaron Ware’s baking business will be featured this Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. The show will air at 7:00 p.m. ET.
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Contact
Casey Cares Foundation
Pam Goode
443-568-0064
www.CaseyCaresFoundation.org
Pam Goode
443-568-0064
www.CaseyCaresFoundation.org
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