Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio
PLAINVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) —After being cancer-free for 9 years, Malia Jusczyk is facing the toughest fight of her life -- but she's not letting it get her down.
The 13-year-old from Plainville is battling a relapse of Stage 4 Neuroblastoma cancer, and after turning to a new hobby during quarantine, she has now emerged as a finalist in an online baking competition.
"It's pretty cool that I made it this far," Jusczyk said. "I just love how when you mix random things together it turns into a masterpiece."
The competition is called Greatest Baker 2021 -- and the winner will receive a feature in Bake from Scratch Magazine, a year's supply of Stuffed Puffs, and a $20,000 cash prize. Jusczyk's specialty is her Signature Brown Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Jusczyk's mother Megan said baking is something that helps her daughter take her mind off her cancer treatments.
"[Malia's] just going through so much right now and to have this positive distraction, and something that she's really really good at," Megan Jusczyk said. "She's in the finals and you know, no matter what she's our greatest baker, we just want to give her every opportunity to enjoy life."
Jusczyk's five-year-old brother Kole also said he thinks Malia win the competition because "she's the best sister."
If you would like to vote for Malia Jusczyk as the Greatest Baker 2021, you can visit the competition website here. Voting is open until July 1, 2021 at 10 p.m. EST.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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