Driving for a Cure. Bella is hitting the links to make a difference! Last year, the 8-year-old golfer from Illinois decided to use her budding career to raise awareness and funds. She loves helping kids and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) provided the perfect opportunity to use her favorite sport to raise funds. After traveling as far as Florida and Texas for tournaments, the pint-sized putter raised over $1,500.
Putting a Full Court Press on Cancer. During his senior year, James wanted every swish on the basketball court to mean more than just a basket. After his friend’s mom passed away from cancer, he wanted to do something to support everyone affected by the disease. Signing up as a Champion gave him that added incentive to rip down rebounds and raise funds for kids facing cancer. After adding an extra layer of meaning to his play, James managed to tally nearly $800 for vital research.
Paddling to a Cancer-Free Future. Exploring the country by foot wasn’t enough for Jim, an experienced outdoorsman. He needed something harder, so he set off alone in mid-May on an 18-foot canoe for a journey that starts in Montana and ends in St. Louis in September. He chose ALSF after deciding he wanted to help kids with cancer in some way because “children are naturally friendly, honest, genuine and truthful, all the qualities that cancer isn’t.” While the 2,500 mile trek will test his stamina, he knows that is nothing compared to what these kids go through.
Spiking Away Cancer. An Ohio volleyball team got together and wanted to spike childhood cancer away from kids’ lives after they learned about the chance to raise money through the Champion program. They set up a lofty goal and hoped their volleyball skills could help them achieve it. They managed to bump their fundraising total to near $1,500, serving up critical funding with their athletic feats.
A Black Belt in Fighting Cancer Whether it was just small hits or full-on kicks, Daniel has been teaching kids martial arts for the past 15 years. This year, he wanted to move beyond instruction and do something to impact kids everywhere, which is how he found out about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. He accepted donations and pledges for the number of kicks he landed on his opponent at a recent competition and collected over $800. He hopes his own bouts can support the much harder fight kids face against cancer.
by Adam Paris
Whether cheering for your favorite team on the sidelines or playing in a competition, sports have a way of bringing people together! Champion for Kids with Cancer gives athletes an opportunity to use that communal power to give back. Meet five standout Champions using their athletic accomplishments to help kids with cancer, featured in our slideshow (above) or view all by clicking here.
No matter your athletic aspirations, you can use your activities to fight childhood cancer. By being a Champion for Kids with Cancer, you can demonstrate your dedication to being the best person you can be every day. Whether you are a basketball player scoring points, a goalie making saves, a baseball player stealing home or a cyclist riding miles, when you sign up to be a Champion, you are committed to making a difference! Learn more and sign up to be a Champion for Kids with Cancer today!
