Did you know?
Every day, there are almost 700 new cases of childhood cancer around the world. This adds up to an estimated 250,000 new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 each year worldwide. And yet, childhood cancer is vastly and consistently underfunded with less than 4% of the federal government's total funding for cancer research is dedicated to childhood cancers each year.
In the last 30-40 years, valuable research has allowed us to tell many families of leukemia patients now that our goal is cure. New target therapy in resistent disease and LESS toxic medication in standard protocols have improved many patients' quality of life and overall better survival rates.
Who Is Alex?
When she was four years old, founder Alex Scott started Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation with one front yard lemonade stand. By the time of her death in 2004, Alex raised $1M and inspired a legacy of hope. Today, ALSF has raised more than $250 million and has funded over 1,000 research grants at nearly 150 institutions around the U.S. and Canada. It all started with one cup of lemonade. And that's not all they do.
WHY is this foundation important to me?
As a pediatric oncology social worker, I help patients diagnosed with cancer and their families navigate the social effects of the diagnosis and treatment. Often families need one parent working while the other accompanies the child through lengthy hospital stays, scheduled appointments and frequent emergency room visits which can last for a couple of years. Many times the dynamic is a lot more socially complex before diagnosis - single parents, limited emotional support, etc. It's not uncommon for even the most financially responsible families to fall behind on basic monthly expenses. The COVID-19 pandemic hit our families even harder. Alex's Lemondae Stand continues to be a foundation we can consistently rely on and refer families to for grocery gift cards, travel assistance, and other financial aid.
It's due to fundraising opportunities like this and people like you that help patients like mine for the present and the future. The money you donate has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of kids with cancer and their families.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TEAM LEMON! You'll be in my heart during training and at the finish line!
