The South Bay is home to two prominent cancer survivors: Adrienne Slaughter, 48, who survived bone cancer as a teen and breast cancer years later, and Jack Witherspoon, 14, who survived three bouts of leukemia. Now the two survivors are teaming up to help raise money for blood cancers.
Slaughter was 14 when she was diagnosed with bone cancer and her right leg had to be amputated. In 2009, she learned she had breast cancer as a result from the radiation therapy that had saved her life as a child. After a double mastectomy, she overcame her second bout with cancer. Slaughter has become a major force on the survivor scene: she gave her first speech as a 16-year old for the United Way in her hometown Atlanta.
She has now delivered over 50 talks as keynote speaker for organizations like the American Cancer Society, Avon Breast Cancer Walk and Walk with Sally. She is a coveted motivational and inspirational speaker. Nine years ago, Slaughter launched her own event “Adrienne’s Search for Children’s Cancer Cure.”
“I decided when I hit that 25th anniversary of being bone cancer free I wanted to do something to give back,” Slaughter said.”I want to help more kids survive because I have been so blessed with my recovery.”
“I like to say I am a two-timer,” she said, laughing. “That’s not usually a good thing to be called, but I’ve beaten cancer twice.”
This year the event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and she has enlisted the help of her friend Jack Witherspoon.
Witherspoon, a handsome teen with bright blond hair and a huge smile, is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Boy of the Year for 2015. Three and a half years ago, Witherspoon had a bone marrow transplant after his leukemia returned for the third time. He is now healthy and excelling at school, sports and his favorite pastime, cooking.
Witherspoon’s fascination with cooking began when he was in the hospital.
“I got bored watching TV shows and playing video games,” he said. “So I started watching the Food Network.”
Witherspoon would memorize the recipes of Rachel Ray, Alton Brown and Bobby Flay, ready to perfect them when he got out of the hospital. He took on the name “Chef Jack” and started cooking at cancer fundraising events, starting at H.T. Grill in Redondo Beach. His story and enthusiasm caught the attention of the Tonight Show and he made his first television appearance at age eight.
“I was only eight so I don’t think I had any idea how big of a deal being on the Tonight Show was,” he said. He helped Jay Leno cook shepherd’s pie and soon other television networks came calling. Witherspoon has now been a guest on Bonnie Hunt, Marie Osmond, Queen Latifah and Home and Family.
After his second charity event, Witherspoon had a big pile of recipes put together, from turkey stroganoff to spaghetti carbonara.
“I told my mom I wanted to make a cookbook and she thought it was great,” he said. “From proposal to writing to getting published with Chronicle Books, the whole thing took two years.”
The book, “Twist It Up: More Than 60 Delicious Recipes from an Inspiring Young Chef,” came out just as Witherspoon was recovering from a bone marrow transplant. He was admitted into the UCLA hospital in June, 2011, underwent extreme chemotherapy until the transplant in August and was finally released in October. Because the chemotherapy wiped out his immune system, Witherspoon had to stay indoors for months. He missed all of sixth grade.
Despite interruptions in schooling and years of radiation, which can alter cognitive function, Witherspoon is an honors student at the top of his class.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said his mother, Lisa. “A lot of kids can have learning problems after so much chemo and radiation. With each bout, they gage kids will lose 20 IQ points lost. But Jack is an honor student. It’s a miracle of good fortune.”
“Imagine how smart I’d be if I didn’t have cancer,” he said, laughing.
Witherspoon hosts two of his own events in addition to speaking at a slew of other fundraisers. His events have raised over $100,000  for Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, where he received his early treatment. He has a room honoring him at the hospital.
At Slaughter’s event next week, hosted by the Women’s Club of Hermosa Beach, Witherspoon with deliver the keynote address.
“I’m going to share my journey and my experience,” he said. “I’ll talk about how I overcame this and how cooking got me through, as well as my very loving and very thoughtful family.”
“I am really excited to inspire other people and to open their minds,” he said. “I want to show them that they can get through these tough obstacles and still achieve their dreams.”
For Witherspoon, those dreams include opening his own restaurant one day and having a cooking show. But first, he has to finish high school.
“For Jack, it’s not just about surviving,” Lisa said. “It’s about thriving and succeeding.”
Adrienne’s Search for Children’s Cancer Cure fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 7 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kiwanis Hall, 2515 Valley Drive in Hermosa Beach. Tickets are $30 and include full dinner, live music, a silent auction and arts and crafts for kids. Kids under 12 are free. Cash bar available. All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Tickets and donations may be made at www.WomansClubofHermosaBeach.org For more information, call 310-940-9200 or AdrienneSpeaking.com.
