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Expanding Access to New Agents for Cancer Treatment for Kids
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Alex's
Lemonade Stand Foundation presented Dr. Lia Gore, an
oncologist at Denver's Children's Hospital, with a $100,000
grant to support her study: Expanding Access to New Agents
for Cancer Treatment. The goal of Dr. Gore's study focuses
on improving the chance of a cure and the overall quality of
life for all children with cancer by using therapies that are
less toxic and more targeted.
How is
this grant making a difference?
"Funding
from Alex's Lemonade Stand, has allowed us to treat more
kids and bring more hope to families. Through their support
of our program, we have been able to open more studies of
promising new agents, and have allowed families to stay
close to home while undergoing therapy. The measure of
comfort that brings families, to know that they can be
treated near home with therapy that would otherwise be
impossible to obtain, cannot be underestimated. Alex's
legacy is directly improving the lives of countless families
every day."
Lia
Gore, MD, FAAP
For more information, and quotes from researchers visit:
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What's Happening |
*
Lemonade Necklace on QVC,
QVC will
feature the "Lemonade Jewelry" designed by Elise Rosenstock
on Sunday, April 1, 2007 during the Silver Style broadcast
at 8:00 AM and the Jewelry Showcase at 6:00 PM (ET). Visit
www.QVC.com for more information.
* Lemonade Days 2007, June 8th-10th
Lemonade
Days 2007 is just around the corner. During Lemonade Days,
dedicated volunteers host thousands of Alex's Lemonade
Stands across the country -- all to help fight childhood
cancer, one cup at a time.Visit
www.alexslemonade.org/Lemonade_Days.php
* Alex's Lemonade Stand is Blogging
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has now started
blogging! Blogging is going to keep the foundation
more up to date and current in its interactions with
our supporters. Our blog is now up and running at:
www.lemonadeblog.com
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Being Mini Can Help Out Major |
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by Jane Egnaczyk, 5th grade teacher
My third grade class at Boonville Elementary in New York has
been hosting an Alex's Lemonade Stand in June for the last 4
years. Boonville Elementary kicked off its mini-stand event
January 2nd, a great idea for Alex's Lemonade in the winter
months of the season.
Mini stands
are printable donation boxes that you can download from Alex's
website. They are just what they sound like, mini lemonade
stands that collect donations for ALSF.
The
challenge was to have an Alex's mini-stand in all the
classrooms and for each classroom to collect $25 by the end of
January. The children were reminded how the money donated
would be used to help in the research to find a cure for
childhood cancer. The whole school was on board from the very
beginning and were anxious to show that this was a challenge
but that they were up for it. One child in class was so
psyched that he went home that night and made his own wooden
stand so that the class could have our own special stand.
During the
weeks that followed the class was especially excited because
the other classes would bring their money to our class and we
kept a tally. There was applause as the totals mounted. Other
classes took pride in that they were able to bring in their
donations more than once a week. What touched me the most is
how the youngest of children believed so strongly in this. I
had a note from a mother of a kindergartner who said her son
insisted on clearing out his bank and sent in about $21.00 in
change. The children demonstrated their belief that any amount
brought in helps to find a cure for cancer. As adults we look
at the big picture, i.e. raising millions because we know
that's what its going to take, but the kids look at a nickel
or their piggy banks just as much.
I thought
about rewards for the class who raised the most, but thought
again that this was not about rewarding in a way like that but
rather the rewards one gets for doing something good and
worthwhile. I believe that not only my class felt good about
what they did, but the whole school was proud. And proud they
were when we tallied up the final amount and found out that
not only did each class collect at least $25.00, many classes
doubled that amount and in the end Boonville Elementary raised
$733.45!
We hope that
other schools will follow our example and incorporate Alex's
mini-stands into their fundraising. Make your own stand at:
www.alexslemonade.org/mini_stand.php
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Companies That Are Making A
Difference |
by Ligia Richter, ALSF staff member
Big O Tires and Gunther Toody's
Come Together for a Cure
Big O Tires sponsored a fund-raising drive for
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation at their 540 franchise
locations in 21 states. Each store had a lemonade stand set
up in its waiting area with information about the
foundation. This campaign succeeded in increasing awareness
of childhood cancer, inspired kids to host their own Alex's
Lemonade Stands and raised funds for research. Big O Tires
also made a corporate donation of $50,000 to Alex's Lemonade
Stand.
Gunther Toody's Diner, a family oriented
restaurant, hosted lemonade stands at its seven locations in
Colorado for five weeks. For a suggested donation of $1,
diners could enjoy a tall cool glass of lemonade and help
the cause. With the support of their customers, Gunther
Toody's was able to raise an amazing $20,000!
Mr. Steve Steffens from Big O Tires and Mr. Tim Leonard from
Gunther Toody's
proudly agreed to represent Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
during a $100,000 research grant presentation to oncologist
Lia Gore at Children's Hospital in Denver. Dr. Gore received
one of 40 research grants distributed by the foundation to
30 different hospitals across the country. Details about
this research grant "Expanding Access to New Agents for
Cancer Treatment" is located on the front page of this
month's gazette.
To
learn more about research money in action visit our web site
grant section at:
www.alexslemonade.org/grants.php
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Top Story |
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A Boy's Best Friend
by: Tim Laskowski, Alex's Lemonade Stand Volunteer
August 1,
2004 was a day that many of us will never forget. It was the
day that Alex Scott passed away. But more than that, August
1, 2004, was an eye opening experience for many of us who
knew so very little about pediatric cancer. That's where we
began our journey to learn more about what we, and others,
could do to help.
In
December of 2004, Alex's Lemonade Stand, Desert Dog
Division, received the official backing of the Desert Dog
Police K-9 Trials, held annually every April in Scottsdale,
Arizona. Planning began, the lemonade stand was built, items
to get it started were acquired, and volunteers signed up.
On April 16th & 17th, 2005, we held our first Alex's
Lemonade Stand for Pediatric Cancer Research, in loving
memory of Lance Gilbert Kowalski and Madison Elizabeth
Poncin, two very special children who were taken in the dawn
of life because of neuroblastoma. Our volunteers helped
raise over $1400.00 that weekend.
Due to a
temporary move for the 2006 K-9 Trials because of stadium
renovations in Scottsdale, we were not able to host a
lemonade stand. However, all of us on the staff of the
Desert Dog Police K-9 Trials are happy to announce that the
Desert Dog Division for Alex's Lemonade Stand for Pediatric
Cancer Research will be back in Scottsdale Stadium on April
14th & 15th, 2007, for this year's K-9 Trials. Our goal for
this year is to raise at least double the amount that we
raised our first year.
This year
our stand is dedicated In loving memory of Benny Petz. Benny
was Desert Dog Police K-9 Trials Honorary Junior Police K-9
Handler at the 2005 Trials, along with his very supportive
brother, Jeremia. Benny passed in June of '06 from
neuroblastoma. It is because of Benny, Alex, Lance, Madison
and so many other children lost to a horrible disease, that
shows no mercy to our children, that our work continues.
Please visit Benny's web site at:
www.bennylove.com.
For more
information about our Stand and the K-9 Trials, visit us at:
www.desertdogk9trials.com
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Kids Help Out
Cub Scout Pack 490
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by Ryan Egnaczyk, ALSF staff member
One of the
great things about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is that
incorporating a lemonade stand or just the spirit of Alex's
Lemonade Stand into other events is easy and fun. One such
event is the "Main in Motion" event held every Thursday
evening throughout the summer in Montrose, Colorado.
There are
bands on different corners, businesses prop their doors open
and community groups sponsor tables of watermelon, 10 cent
Hot Dogs, free face painting, and good old fashioned fun.
When Carrie Ann Swaim and the Cub Scout Pack 490 approached
the board in charge of the event, and told them about Alex's
Lemonade Stand, they were immediately put on the bill, and
were even advertised around town. The newspaper mentioned
the Cub Scout Pack and the radio station that broadcasted
live from Main in Motion did a live spot with the pack each
week! They purchased Alex's Lemonade Bandanas and allowed
the boys to wear them in place of their uniform
neckerchiefs.
Every
Thursday, for 14 weeks, rain or shine, the boys of Pack 490
showed up to make lemonade, tell Alex's story and help fight
childhood cancer. Swaim explained how much it meant to the
kids. "It was very rewarding for this group of boys to be
able to do something that could help other children." We
thank Cub Scout Pack 490 and all the people that helped make
Alex's Lemonade Stand possible at "Main in Motion". Great
job to the boys of Cub Scout Pack 490 for all their hard
work and dedication. Keep up the great work!
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Johnny and the Great Idea
cartoon by: Smitty McDuff
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