Catch up on what's been happening at ALSF

It’s on – lemonade season is officially underway and although it’s been an extremely busy time at ALSF in the past few weeks, we couldn’t be more pleased at the incredible efforts of all of our supporters who have held stands, attended events, wore one of our t-shirts or simply helped to spread our message of hope for all kids with cancer. So much has been happening; we wanted to provide a quick recap below of all the action.Click on any of the events below to see more photos or sign up to be notified of dates for 2014.

Need a reminder of how your support of ALSF helps kids with cancer? Watch one of our veteran childhood cancer heroes, Dan Hammond and his mom Jody, talk about how advancements in research have helped Dan throughout multiple cancer fights, including his current (fourth) battle with the disease.

Midwest Lemonade Days (May 31-June 1)
This was the 10^th year that supporters in the Midwest have teamed up with their local Hy-Vee supermarkets to hold Alex’s Lemonade Stands and raise funds for childhood cancer research – more than $800,000 total in the past decade! The region has shown a tremendous amount of support for the cause, which stemmed from one family’s involvement and has blossomed into this annual, burgeoning event. Check out hero Cooper helping with donations (and his custom poster in the background).

CBS 3 Phone bank (June 6)
Breaking previous years' records, the CBS 3 Phone Bank raised nearly $2 million during this 14 hour televised fundraiser that kicks off National Lemonade Days weekend. In addition to generous donations coming in via phone calls, texts and online – many corporate supporters dropped off big (literally) checks, members of Philly sports teams made appearances and several hero families were interviewed to convey to viewers the importance of funding childhood cancer research. If you don’t live in the Philly area or missed the Phone Bank, you can watch a few of the featured hero stories through the links below (pardon the commercials that pre-empt each segment):

• Giulianna Troiano's Story 
• Hope Bertelsen and Dan Hammond's Story
• Lynnette Henshaw's Story
• Alex Bilotta's Story
• Mario Carpino's Story

National Lemonade Days (June 7-9)
We mixed, we poured and now we’re searching for a cure. National Lemonade Days weekend was a resounding success once again with more than 1,500 stands held in 49 out of 50 states (and in Canada)! Funds raised are continuing to come in from the weekend, but we are confident we’ll hit, if not exceed, our goal. Stay tuned!

Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand (June 8)
The stand that started it all. Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand commemorates Alex Scott’s annual summertime lemonade stand and is held at the elementary school that Alex once attended. The simple stand has evolved into a day of family fun consisting of games, food, raffles, face painting, as well as a butterfly release to celebrate the lives of all children battling cancer or who have lost their lives to the disease. This year, actress Bailee Madison (Wizards of Waverly Place, Parental Guidance), attended the event posing for photos, signing autographs and spreading the good word of kids helping kids.

The Great Chefs Event (June 12)

Pork belly Tacos, Griddled Corn Cakes with Crab and Corn Nuts, Vanilla Ice Cream with Bourbon Butterscotch drizzled on top – these were just a few of the delicious dishes at the 8^th Annual Great Chefs Event on June 8. Benefiting both ALSF and the Vetri Foundation for Children, the sold out foodie event raised nearly $1.1 million and satiated the appetites of everyone in attendance. Best quote of the night? Liz Scott, “We can finish what Alex started and win the fight against childhood cancer.” 

Perfect Way to Start the Week: ALSF on CBS Sunday Morning

It's here....one of the busiest (and best) weeks of the year for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation! We kick it off with the CBS Phone Bank on Thursday, June 6 (tune in to watch or donate online at cbsphilly.com), National Lemonade Days is June 7-9 (hundreds of stands are being held coast to coast) and Alex's "Original" Lemonade Stand, commemorating Alex's annual summertime lemonade stand at the school she once attended, is June 8.

The funds raised from this week alone will help to support a number of pediatric cancer research projects looking for better treatments and cures for all children with cancer. A great feature on "CBS Sunday Morning" yesterday, Sunday, June 2, detailed how the story of our founder Alex has come full circle as research funded by ALSF is leading to lifesaving cures. Missed it? Watch it online and as you see stands popping up in your neighborhood this weekend (or anytime of the year), remember the impact that a simple glass of lemonade can have on a child with cancer.

If your child had cancer, how far would you go to find a cure?

This is the question that we've been posing as we gear up for the Million Mile Run in September - would you go the distance to find a cure? We think it's pretty safe to assume that any parent would go one million miles, and then some, for the well being of their child, so at ALSF - that's just what we're doing. Throughout the month of September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we're going to complete 1 million miles to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research. Watch the video below to learn more:

Does it sound a bit crazy? Perhaps, but when you break it down, we think we'll have no problem reaching our lofty goal. Check out the Million Mile Run Math:

10,000 individuals/teams x 100 miles = 1 million miles

While we're at it, let's do a little Million Mile Run Myth-busting:

Million Mile Myth #1: I need to run all of my miles.
Nope. You can run, walk or any combination of the two.

Million Mile Myth #2: I need to complete 100 miles in September, by myself.
No way. You can certainly participate as an individual with a goal to complete 100 miles by yourself, but you can also form a team of any size and collectively complete 100 miles. Just think, if you formed a team of 4 people and you each walked a mile during your lunch break, you would log 100 miles in no time!

Million Mile Myth #3: I'm living abroad so I can't participate. 
Wrong again. The Million Mile Run is open to anyone, anywhere and is actually the first worldwide event during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Did we mention that it's free to participate? We are encouraging everyone to fundraise - all funds raised will help to fund childhood cancer research projects - but it's not a requirement. You can even get an official 2013 Million Mile Run t-shirt for only $10.

Alex set a goal to raise $1 million through her lemonade stand, which sounded ambitious at the time, and she surpassed it before passing away at the age of 8. We can do this.

Join us! Form a team, set a goal, make a difference for kids with cancer.
Register today at MillionMileRun.org

The Runners' Spirit & the Human Spirit

It's hard to believe, but it's already been one month since the horrific Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. In the days following the attacks, Jay Scott posted a blog to the Huffington Post about the camaraderie of runners as we all tried to comprehend the events in Boston. In case you missed it, we've posted it below. It may be a departure from our regular posts focusing on childhood cancer, but captures the essence of the human spirit that is at the core of why we do what we do at Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation - helping others (in our case, kids with cancer). 

The Runners' Spirit & the Human Spirit
 By Jay Scott
Originally posted on the Huffington Post on April 16, 2013


"Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit." - Bernard Williams

Many of you may be visiting this blog for the very first time, and I hope that you will take the time to review some of the older blogs here about childhood cancer, a topic that is likely the most important in my life. However, after the events that took place in Boston on Monday I am here today writing about another of my passions -- running. I'm an avid runner for Team Lemon, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's athletic arm, and over the course of the last 24 hours, I found myself writing these words, not knowing their purpose and whether they would find a home. The only logical place I could think was here, where I have so often shared the trials and tribulations of my life, and those that coincide with my extreme passion for running for a cause.

I am not here to speculate on what happened at the finish line, instead I am here to share what I know of the special bond that exists between runners, those who cheer them on and the clear display of heroism that is found in both. The loss of life yesterday was unfathomable, and for many of us, our natural instinct as runners is to lace up our sneakers; it's what we know how to do; one foot in front of the other, one step at a time.

Running is not something that I have always done; in fact it is something that I have only picked up within the last five years of my life. I started running because of my competitive nature, but I stuck with it because of the camaraderie that I felt with my friends and fellow runners. It's odd when you think about it, running is a sport where you spend the majority of the time in a very large crowd, yet you're alone. You're alone in your head, thinking about how many more miles you have to go, what your heart rate is, how your breathing is and of course how tired your legs are. If you've never run in a distance race, it's hard to explain, you're by yourself, but part of something so much bigger, and surrounded by this feeling of togetherness. 

I have been through several races where I have been tired and one of my fellow runners patted me on the back, handed me a banana or simply winked, giving me the strength to keep going. Then there are those who come out to cheer you on, you may know some of them, but more likely than not there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, that you don't. I have experienced the jolt of adrenaline when you see a familiar face in the crowd, but I have also experienced it when someone you don't recognize yells "you've got this, Jay!" There are heroes lining all of these races, not just those who crush athletic barriers, not just those who run for the causes they believe in, but those who spend their days exemplifying what it is to do for others; what it is to help others achieve their goals and overcome what they thought impossible. 

I know that this feeling of togetherness was present in Boston on Monday, and across the country as we learned of the events. Already there have been stories of heroism, of those running toward the wounded, runners continuing on to hospitals to donate blood and I'm sure that the runners who never had the chance to get to the finish line were banding together in the time of uncertainty. This is the special bond that runners have, and that truly, we as human beings all share. 

I have seen this coming together of spirit before in times of both triumph and in tragedy. In the days and weeks ahead, I'll continue running, and very soon I will join tens of thousands of people in Philadelphia for our Broad Street Run. I know it will be a difficult day, and one full of heavy hearts, but I also know that heroes will line the street that day too, embracing the runners and each other, because that's what we do, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time.

New Alex's Shirts...and more!

Wear your support for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation on your sleeve...literally! We have a bunch of new ALSF shirts for sale (or pre-order) and other new items to help kick off lemonade season. A sampling is below, but be sure to visit our online gift shop for all of our Alex's gear.  

Official 2013 ALSF Shirt - Long Sleeve ($20), Short Sleeve ($15) 

The official 2013 Alex’s Lemonade Stand t-shirt has arrived! Available in short and long sleeve, we love our “talking lemon” spreading the message of how easy it is to help in the fight against childhood cancer. Get a shirt and sign up to hold a stand during National Lemonade Days!

Alex's "Original" Lemonade Stand T-Shirt - $15 (Limited time only)

Now through May 15, the new Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand t-shirt is available, but only by pre-ordering it online. This shirt will not be available for sale at Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand on June 8, so be sure to order yours today. You can also purchase an Alex’s All Access Pass, which covers all donations for food and activities at the event and includes a limited edition t-shirt.

Alex's "Original" Lemonade Stand T-Shirt

Inaugural Million Mile Run T-Shirt - $10

We’re going the distance to fight childhood cancer, 1 million miles to be exact! To commemorate National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, ALSF is recruiting supporters to help us collectively complete 1 million miles (running or walking) over the course of the month. Learn more about how you can participate in the Million Mile Run! 

FRONT

BACK

ALSF bucket - $10

ALSF Bucket

Make it easy for people to donate to your stand or event with the new ALSF bucket! It’s our signature yellow color with the ALSF logo on each side. We’ve also found that it’s perfect as a cooler - simply fill with ice and keep beverages cold on hot summer days!

Guest Blog: 11-year-old Nicholas tells us about the Camp In

 

Nicholas and his family setting up their tents.

Only a few weeks left until the Camp In For Kids' Cancer being held on May 18-19! We can tell you how fun this event is and all about the exclusive access to the field, players and the stadium that guests receive by attending, but our buddy Nicholas Pennock, a "camper" for the past two years, sums up the experience better than we ever could. Check out Nicholas' blog below and get your tickets! Spend the night with us at Lincoln Financial Field or if you can't sleepover, a dinner ticket ($50) grants you access to the event from 6-9pm on May 18. Additionally, if you decide to fundraise, you have the opportunity to sleep on the actual field. All proceeds benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

My Camp-In Blog
by Nicholas Pennock, age 11

My experience at the Camp-In For Kids' Cancer event was amazing.

When we arrived, we registered and met many other campers. Then we were told where our tent was, it was on the field! This was because we had raised lots of money. We set up our tents and put our things inside. Then the fun began. 

Many activities took place on the field, as well as inside the complex. There was a field goal kick, relay races and story telling. Also, there was a movie, a bouncy slide and much more. I found out I am not good at kicking field goals, but I love relay races. One of my favorite things was running through the blow-up Eagle on the entrance to the field - the same way the players come out on game day!

The Eagles staff and Alex's family do a great job running this event. I met them and many of the other teams such as "Roc-ade," the team who beat us and came in first place both years (in the fundraising contest). Also, we met the players and cheerleaders. My favorite person to meet was "Swoop," the Eagles mascot.

We ate an amazing dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers. Then settled down to watch "RV" and ate popcorn, the movie was very funny. We were in bed by 11:00. I slept well after all the playing.

Waking up in the stadium was a lot of fun. The breakfast was very tasty. I had sausage, a muffin, lemonade and then seconds! Then we ran through the little obstacle course in the corner.

Before we left, we played on the field again. Also, we got to play on a bounce slide, and then it was time to go. We packed up and left.

I believe the most important part of all of this is the cause. This is because we do this to find a cure. We do this to help kids with cancer, and to remember Alex.