Sisters raise money, awareness with cross-country cooking trip

In June, sisters Blair Hickman, 23, and Kelsea Hickman, 19, will leave Chattanooga and head West. They’re retracing the route their mother traveled cross-country with three friends after college graduation.

Their mother won’t be there to cheer them on. J’ann Pecsok died in 2003 at age 48.

To honor her memory, Blair and Kelsea will be helping others along the way. At nine stops across the country, they’ll raise money for Ronald McDonald Houses and make casseroles for families staying at each.

The sisters hope to raise $6,000 — $1,000 for each of the six years their mother was sick, fighting sarcomas that started in her lungs and spread through her body.

CASSEROLES FOR CANCER

On their Web site, www.casserolesforcancer.com, the Hickman sisters acknowledge the role of comfort food in times of crisis.

“In the South, where we grew up, casseroles symbolize support,” they wrote. “The week our Mom passed away, they multiplied in our freezer by the minute. ... It was a way for our community to say, ‘We’re here.’ ”

Initially, the Hickman sisters considered selling homemade casseroles to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Thus, Casseroles for Cancer was born. But that didn’t fit in with the primary purpose of their trip: raising awareness about the importance of nonmedical support for families facing cancer and other illnesses, Blair said.

“Ronald McDonald House is perfectly in line with this mission,” she added.

Jane Kaylor, executive director of the Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House, said this is a wonderful way for the Hickmans to honor their mother while helping others. The local house has a strong team of volunteers who come every evening and cook for families staying at the Third Street location.

“But some of the houses may not have as many volunteers as we do, and I know they will appreciate what the girls are doing,” Ms. Kaylor said.

On the road

Graduates of Red Bank High School, the sisters now live in different cities. Kelsea is a sophomore at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.; Blair is a freelance writer and new-media consultant in New York City.

A while back, the sisters compiled “bucket lists,” writing down things they wanted to do in their lives. The idea to follow in their mother’s footsteps on a cross-country trip made both lists.

“We wanted to stick as closely to the original path as possible,” Kelsea said. “But with the nature of this trip, we had to deviate a little bit. I’m just glad we could go on this trip with a purpose.”

Their 12,000-mile route will take them to Ronald McDonald Houses in Chattanooga; New Orleans; Austin, Texas; Loma Linda, Calif.; San Francisco; Seattle; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Chicago; and Syracuse, N.Y.

While on the road, the Hickman sisters will camp or stay with friends to cut back on expenses. The money used for making casseroles in the Ronald McDonald Houses will come from their personal accounts, though they are trying to get sponsorship from a national grocery chain.

The feedback they’re getting from people through their Web site, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts is “mind-blowing,” Blair said. “This project has gotten us in touch with people I haven’t spoken to in years. And I’m amazed by the generosity of complete strangers. For some reason, people seem to really relate to this project.”

Here are two of the recipes the sisters will be using when hitting the road for Ronald McDonald and their mom.

Spinach Casserole

1 box frozen, chopped spinach, cooked and drained

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 tablespoon grated onion

1⁄4 cup of butter

3⁄4 cup of grated cheddar cheese

1 beaten egg

1 cup stuffing mix, divided (1⁄4 mixed in, 3⁄4 on top)

salt to taste

Combine spinach, soup, onion, butter, cheese, egg and 1⁄4 cup stuffing mix. Salt to taste. Place in greased baking dish. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes, remove from oven and cover with 3⁄4 cup stuffing mix. Makes 6-8 servings.

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

4-6 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Poppy seeds (about 1⁄2 tablespoon)

Ritz crackers (one sleeve)

3 tablespoons melted butter or margarine

Mix together chicken, soup, sour cream, lemon juice and poppy seeds. Spread evenly in greased baking dish. Top with crushed Ritz crackers and drizzle with butter. Bake at 350 F till bubbly and browned, about 30 minutes.