When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
That’s what 8-year-old Alexandra Scott of Pennsylvania did, and the ice-cold lemonade benefits more than the thirsty. Alexandra started a successful nationwide fundraising campaign called Alex’s Lemonade Stand to benefit childhood cancer research.
After being diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 1997, Alex, then 4, decided to sell lemonade for 50 cents a cup with the hope of raising money for her hospital. Each year her courage grew stronger in the face of her cancer and in 2004, individuals and organizations nationwide wanted to help her in her quest to raise $1 million for childhood cancer research. Not surprisingly, Alex’s Lemonade Stand exceeded $1.4 million.
On August 1, 2004, Alex lost her battle with cancer, but there are those who still carry on her dream.
Last Saturday, June 11, Oxford residents Samantha Hein and Spencer Fulk hosted their own lemonade stand at the Scrapping Post in the Oxford Marketplace plaza.
These Oxford Middle School students heard about Alex and her story on the Today Show in late May and only had two weeks to prepare their stand. On June 11, over 1,000 lemonade stands popped up around the nation to help raise more money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Hein said she and Fulk went around town the week before asking for donations from various businesses in Oxford. More than 20 businesses, like Tom’s Hardware, ReGina Paul’s Hair Salon and Meijer, donated to the kids? lemonade stand.
Two weeks of work and five gallons of lemonade later, Hein and Fulk raised a total of $415. ‘The highest donation someone made was $50,? said Hein.
Visitors to the lemonade stand sometimes passed up the lemonade just to make a donation.
‘One lady said ‘I just want to give? and she started to tear up and left,? said Spencer’s mom, Kelly Fulk.
Hein and Fulk both said that they wanted to participate in operating a lemonade stand because they want to help find a cure for cancer. They both plan on holding a stand again next year.
‘We hope to see everyone next year,? said Fulk.
These charitable children would like to thank The Scrapping Post for letting them use their front walkway and for sheltering them from the rain.
If you would like to make a donation to this important cause, please write to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, 333 Lancaster Avenue #414 Wynnewood, PA 19096 or visit the stand on-line www.alexslemonade.com.