Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is currently hiring to fill the following positions: -Grant Coordinator Learn more about these roles and how to apply on our careers page: https://lnkd.in/e7nZrnP4

Put on your dancing shoes???? and join us for The 19th Annual Lemon Ball at the Springfield Country Club on January 18, 2025> LemonBall.org ?? Help us celebrate the life and inspiration of Founder Alex Scott, the progress in childhood cancer research and the generosity that makes it all possible. This remarkable evening includes dancing, drinks and dinner, plus an exhilarating live auction and hero interviews sure to inspire you. Don your favorite yellow-tie attire and come ready to enjoy a charity gala like no other as we continue to make an impact for children fighting cancer.

What motivates you to keep fighting for kids with cancer and their families?

Help kids like Ailani by donating to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) on December 3 for #GivingTuesday> https://lnkd.in/emza-qRc Right now, 8-year-old Ailani is enjoying third grade and hoping that her leukemia is gone, for good. Ailani was 2 years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia that had a rare, hard-to-treat mutation. For the next six years, Ailani would endure two bone marrow transplants and clinical trial after clinical trial as her parents hoped, prayed, and looked for a cure. Ailani's first time in school was last year – and midway through, she relapsed, again. She began her fourth CAR-T cell therapy. Now, while she attends third grade, her parents watch, wait and pray that her next bone marrow biopsy in December shows no evidence of disease and that this treatment is finally her cure.

When you meet Brynn today, you’d have no idea the things she’s endured. She looks like how you’d expect a 10-year-old girl to look: healthy and bright-eyed – a glimmer of mischief with a side of sweetness. Brynn’s initial ependymoma diagnosis, like most childhood cancer diagnoses, happened out of the blue. One day, she was a typical toddler with what seemed like an upset stomach or a virus. And then the next, she was a patient on the neuro-oncology floor at a children’s hospital. After her initial treatment, Brynn was cancer-free. And then, as suddenly as she was diagnosed, she relapsed. Desperate for a cure, Brynn's family turned to a clinical trial led by Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)-funded research Dr. Ted Johnson. Treatment was a thousand miles away, but thanks to the ALSF Travel for Care fund, the family had financial support getting there. In June 2021, Brynn finished treatment, cancer-free. “Now life is horseback riding and playing basketball and dancing and going to Taylor Swift concerts,” said Jessica, Brynn's mom. “It’s better than before,” added Brynn. Read Brynn's story on The Childhood Cancer Blog>https://lnkd.in/edct2wdv

This week's featured hero is Ailani Myers! Ailani's family calls her a true Warrior Princess as she fights acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Doctors discovered Ailani harbored a rare genetic mutation which makes standard treatment ineffective. Today, after many trials and relapses, Ailani has reached remission! Now she awaits her next biopsy in December to tell her whether she is cured. Read Ailani's story>https://lnkd.in/eqmgkDQu

Reminiscing on our sweet summer with Rita's Italian Ice! ???? We want to thank our supporters and amazing partner, Rita's Italian Ice for raising over $97,000 to help kids with cancer this year. We couldn't make this much impact without you!

If you hang around 8-year-old Ailani long enough, you might hear her humming one song or another, maybe Fight Song, which she’s performed on stage at several childhood cancer awareness events. You might catch her playing with one of her many dolls, prepping her babies for the day or the night. Ailani likes to talk, too. Ailani, whose name means “High Chief,” looks like a typical third grader, all bright eyes and playful energy, two missing front teeth, and a little spot of brownie batter on her school uniform following an after-school baking session with her mom. But Ailani is anything but typical. Diagnosed at 2 years old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), she’s endured relapse after relapse, countless clinical trials, two stem cell transplants, and four different CAR T therapies. Her parents dream of the day when they look at their daughter and tell her that she’s beat cancer. “I just want for her to grow up,” said Kurt, Ailani's dad. “And say, ‘I never gave up, I fought so hard, after years and years of getting more therapy than just about anybody, I finally beat it’.” Read Ailani's story on The Childhood Cancer Blog>https://lnkd.in/eXfxmVMs

Clinical trials are a critical part of the search for cures for children with cancer. Since 2013, the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Center of Excellence program has supported hospitals as they work to open more clinical trials--increasing the total trials at these institutions by 40%. When you donate to ALSF, you are helping increase the number of clinical trials that lead to better treatments and cures for kids with cancer.

Jude was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer, retinoblastoma, at his 9-month check-up. He endured three years of treatments, but his tumor grew back. Jude's parents and doctors all agreed – the best thing for Jude would be to remove his eye. Jude is now cancer-free and sports a prosthetic eye! After fighting cancer for most of his life, Jude displays his battle scar with pride. Jude's parents continue to give back to organizations like ALSF to help more childhood cancer families find better outcomes. "We have to all be a part of ensuring that the next family that gets that diagnosis has the proper care and support so that they can also have that happy ending that my family was able to have," said Sam Oches, Jude's dad.