By: Trish Adkins
The team at Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation continues to reflect upon our founder’s story of determination, as well as her legacy that lives on through our supporters everywhere.
As our founder, Alex Scott, battled her own cancer, her drive to help others pushed her to raise $1 million for kids with cancer by the time she died at age 8. Her belief that you can always do better never wavered even in the harshest of circumstances.
Alex believed that everyone could join together to help change the world. And we do too.
For this Feel-Good Friday, we rounded up three lessons from Alex that her parents Liz and Jay shared:
1. Greatness can come out of trying times and isolation
Jay Scott, Alex’s Dad shared a reflection on what it was like to be in isolation.
"During that month-long stay in the hospital, one day Alex said, 'When I get out of here, I want to set up a lemonade stand.'"
The rest of the story many of you know: Alex hosted her first lemonade stand, and then even more lemonade stands, inspiring people everywhere to join the fight to cure childhood cancer. Her isolation sparked one of the most community-driven movements on the planet with children, families, businesses and friends holding lemonade stands all for one mission: cures for children with cancer.
During Alex's isolation, we learned so much. These days, there is one lesson especially that we should all remember:
Greatness can come out of trying times and isolation.”
2. It only takes a moment each day to stop, appreciate all this good and share it with each other
Alex’s mom Liz Scott, shared one of the love notes that Alex left for her.
“I miss Alex every day. You never know when a simple gesture, like a love note, will become a treasure to those you leave behind.”
3. Everyone can make a difference.
On what would have been Alex’s 24th birthday, Liz shared:
“Alex believed that a lemonade stand could cure childhood cancer. And we still do, too.
To my dear, sweet, beautiful, stubborn, wise daughter, how we all wish you were here to celebrate your birthday with us. Because of everything you believed, we know there are other children, who feel better and are here today, ready to celebrate their own birthdays. Your belief that everyone can make a difference and that kids can feel better, even when they are battling cancer, that belief has brought us this far to 2020—and that belief will bring us all the way to cures, all because of your simple lemonade stand.”
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is launching a social media campaign inspired by ALSF founder Alex Scott’s positive outlook in times of uncertainty. We want to know how you are making lemonade out of lemons during this time - whether it's by learning new skills, getting creative, connecting with family or friends through video chat or doing something else that puts a sweet smile on your faces! Share your special moments with us on social media using the hashtag #MakeAlexsLemonade.
