The holidays are a time when people seem to give the most generously of themselves in so many ways. Unfortunately, the need continues to exist for people and organizations everywhere, even after the calendar turns over a new leaf. After the gifts are all unwrapped, and the colored lights are packed away until next year, there is still plenty of time and plenty of necessity for those who wish to give of themselves. Sometimes it's money, sometimes it's time, sometimes it's a hand or an ear or a voice. This week we will talk to a variety of people who are giving in some way, or making it possible for others to do so. So spread the word, share the information, and by all means if you possibly can... give!
YOU DO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK WITH THE ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION, CORRECT?
"Yes! Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer raises funds for childhood cancer research. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease of children under 17 year olds in the united states. Of course those cancers, brain tumors are the number one killer. Yet, childhood cancer research is grossly underfunded."
CAN YOU TELL ME JUST A LITTLE ABOUT THE MISSION OF THAT ORGANIZATION?
"Alex's fills in that void and raises funds to support projects looking for cures, safer treatments and also research into survivorship and late term side effects of cancer and its treatments. Alex's fills in that void and raises funds to support projects looking for cures, safer treatments and also research into survivorship and late term side effects of cancer and its treatments."
HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION?
"My oldest daughter Lily was diagnosed with ependymoma, a type of brain cancer, when she was 14 months old. When Lily was in patient at CHOP, it happened to be during ALSF's annual Lemonade Days Fundraiser. I was depressed, angry and withdrawn. It was a bad time. My husband made me go downstairs to buy lemonade (he already knew of the charity). I heard Liz Scott, Alex's mother, speak. She said the word "hope," over and over and over again. She stood up and spoke about this hope for a cure and the battles that ALSF was fighting for our children. Alex, her daughter was dead. I figured if this woman who had lost her daughter could put her shoes on each day and stand up and speak about hope and fight; that I could get myself together and join the fight for Lily and for all children. Since that day in 2007, we were hooked on lemonade."
WOW! SO LIZ SCOTT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT AND SPEAKING WHILE YOU WERE THERE?
"Yep."
HOW LONG HAD IT BEEN SINCE ALEX HAD PASSED AWAY WHEN YOU HEARD LIZ SPEAK?
"Just shy of 3 years. Alex died in August 2004."
I'D IMAGINE AT THAT TIME YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY FEARFUL TO SAY THE LEAST?
"Terrified. I've never been more scared in my life."
"Yes! Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer raises funds for childhood cancer research. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease of children under 17 year olds in the united states. Of course those cancers, brain tumors are the number one killer. Yet, childhood cancer research is grossly underfunded."
CAN YOU TELL ME JUST A LITTLE ABOUT THE MISSION OF THAT ORGANIZATION?
"Alex's fills in that void and raises funds to support projects looking for cures, safer treatments and also research into survivorship and late term side effects of cancer and its treatments. Alex's fills in that void and raises funds to support projects looking for cures, safer treatments and also research into survivorship and late term side effects of cancer and its treatments."
HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION?
"My oldest daughter Lily was diagnosed with ependymoma, a type of brain cancer, when she was 14 months old. When Lily was in patient at CHOP, it happened to be during ALSF's annual Lemonade Days Fundraiser. I was depressed, angry and withdrawn. It was a bad time. My husband made me go downstairs to buy lemonade (he already knew of the charity). I heard Liz Scott, Alex's mother, speak. She said the word "hope," over and over and over again. She stood up and spoke about this hope for a cure and the battles that ALSF was fighting for our children. Alex, her daughter was dead. I figured if this woman who had lost her daughter could put her shoes on each day and stand up and speak about hope and fight; that I could get myself together and join the fight for Lily and for all children. Since that day in 2007, we were hooked on lemonade."
WOW! SO LIZ SCOTT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT AND SPEAKING WHILE YOU WERE THERE?
"Yep."
HOW LONG HAD IT BEEN SINCE ALEX HAD PASSED AWAY WHEN YOU HEARD LIZ SPEAK?
"Just shy of 3 years. Alex died in August 2004."
I'D IMAGINE AT THAT TIME YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY FEARFUL TO SAY THE LEAST?
"Terrified. I've never been more scared in my life."
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SO HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM HEARING LIZ SCOTT SPEAK AT CHOP TO YOUR CURRENT LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FOUNDATION?
"During Lily's treatment, we decided we would hold a lemonade stand. After she finished treatment and we were a bit more stable and settled, we held our first stand in June 2009. We set a goal of $2,000. And then we surpassed that goal and kept going and going. Now our goal is $10k each year. Last year we raised over $12k. And we just keep going. One cup at a time, until there is a cure."
SO LILY IS IN REMISSION THEN?
"Lilly has been cancer free since her end of treatment scan in October 2007. (We don't use the term remission for brain tumors. I forget why, exactly. Just a technical thing). In addition to our stands, we also speak at special events, to schools, corporate groups and businesses."
WHERE ARE YOUR STANDS LOCATED?
"Our annual stand is always hosted in our front yard. On occasion we help with other stands in conjunction with special events."
WHEN DO YOU HOLD YOUR ANNUAL STAND?
"Always the second or third weekend in June. The next one will be June 6th, 2015!"
ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE RAISED IN TOTAL FOR THE FOUNDATION?
"Just shy of $60K."
THAT IS AMAZING!
DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS, ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO SOMEONE WHO MAYBE JUST RECIEVED THAT SAME DEVESTATING DIAGNOSIS THAT YOU RECEIVED BACK IN 2007?
"Oh gosh. People always said well meaning, yet maddening things to us--like "everything happens for a reason" and "have faith" and "god never gives you more than you can handle." All of those things, well, they are crap. It is devastating, it sucks. There is no way around it. BUT, there is hope, there is always hope--even when it appears there is no hope, it always shoves its way through and lights the dark. Hope is very pushy."
HOW CAN PEOPLE GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALEX'S, STAND LOCATIONS, OR DONATION INFORMATION?
The foundation's website is www.alexslemonade.org. Lily's stand website is is
http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1121380.
"During Lily's treatment, we decided we would hold a lemonade stand. After she finished treatment and we were a bit more stable and settled, we held our first stand in June 2009. We set a goal of $2,000. And then we surpassed that goal and kept going and going. Now our goal is $10k each year. Last year we raised over $12k. And we just keep going. One cup at a time, until there is a cure."
SO LILY IS IN REMISSION THEN?
"Lilly has been cancer free since her end of treatment scan in October 2007. (We don't use the term remission for brain tumors. I forget why, exactly. Just a technical thing). In addition to our stands, we also speak at special events, to schools, corporate groups and businesses."
WHERE ARE YOUR STANDS LOCATED?
"Our annual stand is always hosted in our front yard. On occasion we help with other stands in conjunction with special events."
WHEN DO YOU HOLD YOUR ANNUAL STAND?
"Always the second or third weekend in June. The next one will be June 6th, 2015!"
ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE RAISED IN TOTAL FOR THE FOUNDATION?
"Just shy of $60K."
THAT IS AMAZING!
DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS, ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO SOMEONE WHO MAYBE JUST RECIEVED THAT SAME DEVESTATING DIAGNOSIS THAT YOU RECEIVED BACK IN 2007?
"Oh gosh. People always said well meaning, yet maddening things to us--like "everything happens for a reason" and "have faith" and "god never gives you more than you can handle." All of those things, well, they are crap. It is devastating, it sucks. There is no way around it. BUT, there is hope, there is always hope--even when it appears there is no hope, it always shoves its way through and lights the dark. Hope is very pushy."
HOW CAN PEOPLE GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALEX'S, STAND LOCATIONS, OR DONATION INFORMATION?
The foundation's website is www.alexslemonade.org. Lily's stand website is is
http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1121380.
Photo courtesy of Joe Routon
