Witherspoon finds hope, inspiration in food

By Courtney Hughey
Staff Writer

While some 12 year olds are busy playing video games or sports, aspiring chef and cancer survivor Jack Witherspoon has already published a cookbook and made a name for himself.

The Redondo Beach native was first diagnosed with leukemia at age two, and he has spent a large portion of his life in treatment.

“I got really bored in the hospital and started watching the ‘Food Network,’” Witherspoon said. “After watching a couple shows I really got inspired.”

At age eight, Paul Hennessey, Witherpoon’s mother’s former boss, decided to create a “Cooking Up Dreams” event in December 2009 to raise money for cancer research at Jonathan Jaques Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. Witherspoon had the opportunity to team up with the head chef and to cook a pre-planned meal.

“My mom happened to know the owner of H.T. Grill, and she helped me to get a charity event started,” Witherspoon said. “I really wanted to showcase my cooking skills and work with a real professional chef.”

At the event, Witherspoon was the featured chef for the night and raised $36,000 for the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Hospital. The hospital honored his efforts by putting his name on one of the new rooms in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit.

“I love doing charity because it is great to help other people fight cancer,” Witherspoon.
In 2010, Witherspoon was featured on the “Jay Leno Show.” Witherspoon also decided to write his own cookbook the same year.

“I thought it was a great way to show off all his recipes,” Witherspoon’s mother, Lisa Witherspoon, said.
Witherspoon’s cookbook, titled “Twist it Up,” was published in 2011 and includes his favorite recipes. Bobby Flay, American celebrity chef and “Food Network” star, endorsed the book.

“He possesses a love of food matched only by his incredible fighting spirit,” Flay says on the back cover.

In the future, Witherspoon hopes to have a show on “Food Network,” but right now he’s focused on his book’s success.

“He takes advantage of all his opportunities and makes the best of his situation,” Lisa Witherspoon said.