Marky's Sweet Treats is an annual bake sale and block party that has been running since 2018 in Toronto, Canada. This event is run in September during Childhood Cancer Awareness month to raise money for leukemia research at SickKids Hospital, specifically the Owen Weinstein Fund.
Due to Covid-19 we were forced to pivot our fundraising idea, so this year during the month of September we are very excited to share we will be selling Marky’s Sweet Treats Bakebook filled with recipes from over 80 of your favourite chefs and baking influencers. Throughout the month these same contributors will be running virtual baking events.
This event is named for Marky Czutrin. At 3 years old, Marky was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. After 15 harsh months of chemo, he relapsed and underwent a bone marrow transplant at the young age of 4. A few months later, Marky relapsed again. Due to advances in science Marky qualified for the newest form of treatment for blood cancers known as CAR-T cell therapy. Marky was only the 14th patient in Canada to receive this treatment and was the last patient on the trial before it became commercially available. It was this therapy that ultimately saved his life and it is because of this advancement in cancer treatment that Marky is a healthy, happy and thriving 7-year-old boy.
Follow us on Instagram @markyssweettreats and be sure to tag us in all your posts of the recipes you bake from this book. If you would like to reach us, please email us at markyssweettreats@gmail.com
Tieghan Gerard – Half Baked Harvest, Chef Bruno Feldeisen, Chef Anna Olson, Chef Mark McEwan, Chef Susur Lee, Deb Perelman – Smitten Kitchen, Sally’s Baking Addiction, Chef Mark Bittman, Weelicious, Chef Craig Wong – Patois, Chef Dev, Chef Matthew James Duffy, Sonia Wong – Saltnpeperhere, Toben Food by Design, Le Beau Croissanterie, Dufflet Rosenberg – Dufflets, Julie and Lisa – Bite Me More, Sara Verk – Kitchen Sink Blog, Carmen Golberg – Sweettreatscochrane, Carolyn Cohen – Delicious Dish, Quite Good Baked Goods – Erica Seetner, Irresistibly Delicious – Jen Grossman, Food Home Co. – Samantha Goren, Sweet Sushi Co., Gouter, Brick Street Bakery, Oh Sweet Day! Bake Shop – Fanny Lam, Beta5 Chocolates, Simply Beautiful Eating – Debi Traub, Food Dudes, Sweetapolita, Bake Play Smile, Don’s Bakery, Erin Jeanne McDowell, Jessica Waks, Ryder – Junior Chef Showdown, Shelby Lara Nutrition, Flour Bakery – Chef Joanne Chang, Parallel Brothers, Karlee’s Kupcakes, Chef Romain Avril, Shauna Lindzon, Chef Rose Reisman, Chef Gaetano Trovato – Arnolfo, Sukaina Bharwani – Health and Food Junkie, The Rolling Pin, Zambonelli Foods, Molly B Gluten Free, More Granola, Vickie Liu, Chef Nuit Regular – Pai Toronto, Greenhouse Juice, Just Crumbs, Nosh Balls, Chef Amy Rosen – Rosen Buns, Healthy Genie, Rooks 2 Cooks, Chef Joanna Sable, Charbol, Queen and Beaver Pub, Sanagan’s Meat, Edo Restaurant, Together Hemp, Carla Cookie Box, It’s Souper, Manning Canning, Rachel Mansfield, Leah’s Biscotti, Quest XO Chocolate, Hearts Ease Bakery, Bobbette and Belle, Sari Diskin – Eat Well with Sari, Leandro – Familiga Baldassare, Chef Matt Basile – Fidel Gastro. Fresh City Farms, Nadege, Pasta Tucci, Jordana Hart, Chef Christine Cushing and Chef Michael Smith. Chef Rob Rossi - Giulietta. Chef Jordan Wagman.
Funds raised through Marky's Sweet Treats will support Owen's Fund at SickKids Foundation. This fund was set up in memory of Owen Weinstein by his mother, father and brother. In order to honour Owen, his family is taking on the challenge of raising $1 million for the hospital in support of leukemia research and the building of the new SickKids.
On January 19, 2014 Owen was diagnosed with leukemia. His family knew Owen was fighting an uphill battle. He relapsed four times and his leukemia grew more complex. Through his fight the care he received at SickKids was incredible.
Owen passed away on September 12th, 2018. He was 14 years old. Everyone who knew him misses him terribly and his family encourages everyone to honour his memory by continuing to live as Owen did – with a brave, resilient and positive spirit.
This fund is set up to support research since Owen was at the cutting edge of leukemia treatment; he was one of the first recipients at SickKids to receive CAR-T therapy. Every time Owen was asked to participate in hospital research studies, he said yes. He understood and appreciated that the research was important, not just for him, but for other children too. His family hopes to keep that spirit alive through Owen’s Fund.