Maggie is an extraordinary person. She is intelligent and inspiring, with a beautiful life full of people she loves. She enjoys spending summers at the Jersey Shore with her family, cuddling with her cats Binx and Pumpkin, and drinking Diet Coke. 

On December 6, 2006, at the age of 9 years old, Maggie was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (a rare bone cancer) in her left tibia. Maggie’s very normal 4th grade life took a turn through a new world, which included pediatric oncologists and medicines named methotrexate, doxirubicin and cisplatin. Over the next 10 months, Maggie would courageously endure 153 overnights in the hospital, which included 18 chemotherapies, eight infections, 11 surgeries and ultimately the amputation of her left leg below the knee.

Through all of this, Maggie never once complained and fully embraced the support that was there for her. She was able to endure chemo through friends new and old and a dedicated family support system. Throughout her treatment and in the years following, Maggie felt a strong call to give back those that helped her family through the most difficult time of their life. Hearing Alex’s story, and the mission of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), Maggie was instantly inspired to get involved with the organization and hold a lemonade stand of her own. In total, over the course of eight years, Maggie’s lemonade stand raised more than $37,000.

Since graduating from James Madison University in 2019, Maggie has started what she hopes to be a life-long career in non-profit fundraising that supports children facing cancer, their families, and the doctors and researchers working to find cures. As of 2024, Maggie will be 17 years cancer-free, and her journey has come full circle: she now works on the Special Events team at ALSF. 

Information provided by Maggie Gaal
Updated July 2024