Carol H. Axelrod Memorial Blood Drive to benefit Maya Rigler Virtual Lemonade Stand

Stand Hosted by Local Girl with Goal of Raising $250,000 to Fight Childhood Cancer

In an effort to join the battle against childhood cancer, the 8th Annual Carol H. Axelrod Memorial Blood Drive at Lankenau Medical Center has chosen Maya Rigler’s Virtual Lemonade Stand as one of the recipients of the Community CHAllenge for the October blood drive. For every unit of blood collected on October 12 and 13, the Axelrod family will make a donation to Maya’s Stand. If the blood drive collection surpasses last year’s total of 237 units, the family will double their donations.

Maya Rigler was diagnosed at age two with Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. One of her kidneys was removed during treatment, but she made a complete recovery. Cancer-free for several years, Maya became involved with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Every year, Maya and her family have held lemonade stands in support of the Foundation’s mission to raise money for, and awareness of, the causes of childhood cancer and to fund research into new treatments and cures.

In January, the Rigler family learned that a different and unrelated type of cancer, Ewing sarcoma, was affecting Maya’s pancreas and surrounding organs. Despite being faced with a very difficult diagnosis, Maya, now 11 years old, has remained upbeat, optimistic, and extremely focused on hitting an extraordinary fundraising goal for ALSF of $250,000 so that, “Maybe one day we can make sure that no other kid needs to go through this stuff.”

Maya’s story has personally touched the Axelrod family. Throughout the course of Maya’s treatment, she has required a number of blood and platelet transfusions. Maya has demonstrated similarities between her and Carol Axelrod, the Wynnewood resident who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the blood and bone marrow. During Carol’s treatment for the disease, she became dependent on regular transfusions of blood and platelets. Maya, like Carol, has displayed a fighting spirit and an ability to smile and laugh. No matter how challenging her situation became, Carol always kept her sense of humor and Maya has done the same.

“Our family saw firsthand what a difference blood donation makes for hospital patients and the people who care about them,” said daughter Michelle Scolnick. “The transfusions my mother received were essential in allowing her to live independently and continue doing the things she enjoyed. This blood drive is a way for us to honor her memory by helping other patients spend more time with their loved ones, and it also enables us to give back to Lankenau Medical Center, the American Red Cross, and the local community that has been so supportive of our efforts.” Additionally, the Axelrod family says they have subscribed to the theory of “making lemonade out of lemons” and that is how they view their blood drives in Carol’s memory.

Since 2008, the Axelrod family’s blood drives have collected more than 1,900 units of blood, and they anticipate collecting their 2,000th unit during the course of the upcoming drive at Lankenau. Every unit of donated blood can be separated into components that can be given to as many as three patients, meaning that one donor can help save three lives. Other Community CHAllenge recipient for October is Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, which provides free veterinary care and recovery services for displaced pets while working to reunite them with their families following a disaster in their home. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, visit www.chablooddrive.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (mention sponsor code “CHAMemorial”).

WHAT:            8th ANNUAL CAROL H. AXELROD MEMORIAL BLOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT MAYA RIGLER’S VIRTUAL LEMONADE STAND TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD CANCER

WHEN:            MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. to TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

WHERE:         LANKENAU MEDICAL CENTER ANNENBERG CONFERENCE CENTER 100 E. LANCASTER AVE., ROOMS 101A, B AND C, WYNNEWOOD, PA 19096