NationStates Jolt Archive


Alex's Lemonade Stand - fighting childhood cancer one cup at at ime

The Cat-Tribe
08-05-2005, 19:03
I love the Kentucky Derby. But watching it this year was a bit emotional in light of the story of Alexandra 'Alex' Scott, the 8 year old founder of Alex's Lemonade Stand For Pediatric Cancer Research (http://www.alexslemonade.com/index.php). This brave little girl's heart-rending story was affiliated with Afleet Alex (http://www.afleetalex.com/), the third-place finisher who himself faced adversity as did his breeder. (More (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/derby/2005-05-05-afleet-alex_x.htm)). Consider donating (http://www.alexslemonade.com/help.php) to or otherwise supporting Alex's Lemonade Stand!

Alex battled neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer, for seven and a half years. Through the years she continued to amaze and inspire all who knew her with her positive outlook and incredible strength.

When she was just four years old, Alex asked if she could have a lemonade sale to raise money for "her hospital". Her mother told her that it might be difficult to raise money fifty cents at a time; Alex's response was "I don't care, I will do it anyway”. In July of 2000, she made good on that promise and raised over $2,000 for Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

In March of 2001, Alex and her family moved to the Philadelphia area to pursue experimental treatment options. Once again, Alex was determined to have a lemonade stand, this time for her "new hospital". In fall of 2001 she held a stand and raised $600 for Neuroblastoma research at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

On June 22, 2002, Alex held another lemonade stand and dedicated it to her friend Toireasa, who had recently lost her battle with neuroblastoma. She raised $18,000 and donated all the proceeds in Toireasa’s name to neuroblastoma research at CHOP.

In June 2003, Alex held her most successful lemonade stand up until then. Despite pouring rain people flocked to Alex's Lemonade Stand to support her efforts to raise money for cancer research. On June 12, 2004, Alex's original stand raised nearly $40,000 in 3 hours. People across the country joined in and held stands on June 12th, raising an amazing $220,000 in one day.

In 2004, Alex's Lemonade Stand, with the help of generous people around the country setting up lemonade stands, sending donations and holding other fundraisers, more than $1.5 million was raised.

Alex’s fundraising efforts have gone way beyond raising thousands of dollars for her favorite charities. Her story has inspired people to improve our world by helping themselves and helping others. Many other children have held their own fundraisers, in Alex’s name, to fight childhood cancer. These range from holding lemonade stands to forgoing birthday presents and having donations go to Alex's Fund to creating an Awesome Alex Teddy Bear to loose change collections along with many other fundraisers.

On August 1, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 after battling cancer for 7 ½ years. Alex’s spirited determination to raise awareness and money for all childhood cancer while she bravely fought her own deadly battle with cancer has inspired thousands of people, from all walks of life to raise money and give to her cause. Alex’s family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
The Cat-Tribe
09-05-2005, 04:07
*bump*

I grant there isn't anything to argue about here, so I should not have expected comment.

I should have either said something nasty about the girl or said she was a lesbian. That might have gotten some attention.
Potaria
09-05-2005, 04:09
I heard about this while my dad was watching it. Wow.
BLARGistania
09-05-2005, 04:09
*sniffle*

Very pretty story.
The Cat-Tribe
09-05-2005, 04:12
*sniffle*

Very pretty story.

That is more like it.

I want everybody in NS fighting back tears, dammit!

I did. Which isn't supposed to happen during the Derby unless your horse wins ... or loses.
BLARGistania
09-05-2005, 04:14
Its gunna be hard to get everyone fighting back tears.

You def. needed a title like "OMG!!! GEORGE BUSH IS T3H GAYz0R!!!!"

Then the story would have spread much much faster.

What the hell does Neuroblastoma do anyway?
Potaria
09-05-2005, 04:15
What the hell does Neuroblastoma do anyway?

I have no idea, but it sounds especially nasty...
BLARGistania
09-05-2005, 04:17
sounds like your brain getting smashed through your skull with a large gold brick wrapped up in a flaming paper bag.
Potaria
09-05-2005, 04:18
sounds like your brain getting smashed through your skull with a large gold brick wrapped up in a flaming paper bag.

Funny, I was thinking of something very similar...
BLARGistania
09-05-2005, 04:19
Funny, I was thinking of something very similar...

Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster? Perhaps?
The Cat-Tribe
09-05-2005, 04:23
Its gunna be hard to get everyone fighting back tears.

That is where the taser comes in ...

What the hell does Neuroblastoma do anyway?

I don't know. I saw the effect it had on the little girl. And knew it was a commonly type of childhood cancer with a high fatality rate.

Here is more info:
What Is Neuroblastoma? (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_neuroblastoma_31.asp)
Neuroblastoma (http://www.cancerindex.org/ccw/guide2n.htm)
Dempublicents1
09-05-2005, 04:41
*sniffle*

*tear*

Stuff like this always makes me cry.
The Cat-Tribe
09-05-2005, 05:57
*sniffle*

*tear*

Stuff like this always makes me cry.

Yay! Two fellow softies down!

(And I think Potaria just doesn't want to admit it.)

The war is going well!
BerkylvaniaII
09-05-2005, 06:03
While I didn't cry, I did feel crushingly bad for the mother of that little girl when they showed her in the derby coverage. For them to show her as she went from seeing a chance for her horse to win to realizing that it was over just seemed crashingly wrong.
The Cat-Tribe
09-05-2005, 08:48
While I didn't cry, I did feel crushingly bad for the mother of that little girl when they showed her in the derby coverage. For them to show her as she went from seeing a chance for her horse to win to realizing that it was over just seemed crashingly wrong.

That was harsh.

Although the Giacomo upset was cool, a sniper could have created a "happy" ending at the finish line.

Seriously, I wish they hadn't shown that it was tough seeing her get excited and then .... crash. And the kids around her were all confused. :(
BerkylvaniaII
09-05-2005, 18:45
That was harsh.

Although the Giacomo upset was cool, a sniper could have created a "happy" ending at the finish line.

Seriously, I wish they hadn't shown that it was tough seeing her get excited and then .... crash. And the kids around her were all confused. :(

She was confused as well. It was like we were watching her entire world come crashing down on her, sort of like when they showed Christa McAuliffe's parents watching the Challenger disaster. There's something about human grief, specifically the confusion that arises out of it, that makes it almost indecent to show.

The Giacomo underdog/longshot was indeed cool, though. It was also visciously amusing that none of Zitto's five entries finished in the top three.
Carnivorous Lickers
09-05-2005, 19:11
It is a bitter sweet story and I think it makes the most cynical pause-as there is almost nothing you can say. Most people hate to hear of a child suffering and dying. We hate to hear a child defying cancer.
Hopefully-this is the reason you didnt get a landlside of responses. Maybe it was a thoughtful pause before posting or not posting just for the sake of it, which is very often the case.
This is no place to make a sick joke about children and terminal illness. Maybe a pause to thank God we ourselves-or loved ones-isnt facing such a deperate situation.