Kneaders Bakery helping cancer research one cookie at a time


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SALT LAKE CITY — Doctors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute are conducting research into elephant DNA which they believe may unlock the cure to childhood cancer because elephants almost never get the disease.

According to Dr. Joshua D. Schiffman's research, the secret may lie in the number of tumor suppressor genes they carry. Now his team is working to transfer this discovery to humans.

On any given day at Utah's Hogle Zoo, visitors marvel at the elephants. The zoo gives visitors a chance to get up close and personal with one of the world's largest land mammals. The giants are known for being gentle, but they're also generous. They're offering up a part of themselves to help those who come to see them. They're offering up their blood, a key part of critical research happening right now.

"They asked if I wanted to be a part of this and I said, 'absolutely,'" said Laura Smith.

No, Smith isn't going to be drawing blood from the elephants anytime soon and nor is she a doctor.

"My mom and dad are the founders of Kneaders," she explained.

She is now a co-owner of one of the sandwich shops too.

"There is such a lack in funding in childhood cancer research," she said. "Kneaders wanted to get involved."

And get involved it did, the best way it knows how.

"These cookies are darling," she said while admiring the bright blue elephant designs.

For $2.99, customers at all 52 locations can get an elephant-shaped sugar cookie. Like the elephants, Smith is offering something as well. Every single cent from their sales goes toward the elephant cancer research.

It's a cause Smith has a personal connection to.

"My son Tanner, when he was 13 years old, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma," she said.

Smith knows the sandwich business inside and out, but cancer threw her a curve ball.

"I knelt down in front of my son and grabbed him and held him in my arms," she said. "I told him I was going to fight with him."

Tanner is now in remission, but the mother and son are still fighting that war on behalf of others with each cookie.

"I never thought we would be sitting here talking about cancer," she said.

So, when you think of elephants large and lumbering or the versions small and scrumptious, the work being done is immeasurable.

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