Student Contributor -D. Churchill
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (A.L.S.F.) believes in changing the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer. Money is raised through donations, as well as crowd and partner funding. ALSF is dedicated to building an ever-growing community of scientists, families, donors, and partners that aims to find a cure for childhood cancer.
ALSF was founded and continues to be inspired by a young girl named Alexandra Scott, who raised $1 million dollars at her front yard lemonade stand and cancer fundraiser. At four-years-old, Alex had made it her goal to help find a cure for the disease that ended up taking her life at the age of eight. Over 700 children worldwide are diagnosed with childhood cancer, but the funds to research a cure are limited. Since the first stand, ALSF has funded nearly 1,000 research projects at 135 institutions; leading toward cures and improved quality of life for children with cancer. Along with that, the money raised goes to supporting hundreds of families through partner programs that make it possible for the developed treatments to be accessible to children.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Fundraiser hosts an annual, nationwide Lemonade Day. This makes it possible to turn a traditional, lemonade stands, into an impactful fundraiser for children fighting cancer. On the website there are numerous stories about “featured heroes” that provide an opportunity to get to know the children fighting cancer that are benefiting. Through their “one cup at a time makes a difference” movement it is a meaningful way to assist students in the classroom to see the influence they can make in the life of those in need. ALSF makes it easy for teachers to register and receive a full lemonade day kit to be utilized by students.
