Dear Friends and Families,

Imagine a baby girl. It’s two days before her first birthday, and she’s diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer. This innocent girl hasn’t even lived a full year, and she’s been diagnosed with one of the rarest types of cancer. At this point you’d think I’m going to tell you about a poor, little girl who died of cancer, but I’m going to tell you about a brave girl, who many call a hero. A hero, who started the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

The Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by Alexandra (Alex) Scott when she was just four years old in the year 2000. Alex, who was already dealing with her own cancer, decided that she wanted to have a lemonade stand to help raise money for doctors, so they  could find a cure for kids just like her. From just her first lemonade stand, Alex, with the help of her older brother managed to raise $2000. Even though Alex was fighting her own cancer, she still continued to have lemonade stands every year. When the news spread that a four year old girl was raising money for cancer, it inspired people all around the country to have their own lemonade stands so they could donate money to Alex's cause. In 2004, Alex died of neuroblastoma at the age of eight. Even though she was only a kid, Alex’s stand had inspired so many people. The year Alex died, her stands had raised more than a million dollars towards finding a cure for cancer.

In 2005, the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by Alex’s parents, Liz and Jay Scott, in  honor of what Alex had started. The foundation’s mission is: to raise money for and awareness of childhood cancer causes—especially research into new treatments and cures—and to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer. This organization is important because it spreads awareness about childhood cancer. The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation also gives hope to many children who are suffering with cancer. Most importantly, it encourages children to make a difference in the world, and setting up a lemonade stand can be easy for kids of any age, just like Alex proved when she had her first lemonade stand at age four.

The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has made many positive contributions to the world. From 2004 (the year Alex died) to current day this organization has raised more than $80 million. With this money they have funded 450 research projects for cancer. They have also created a travel program for families with children receiving treatment. This program helps families get their children the latest treatment by helping them with long distance travel expenses. Not to mention the amount of awareness they have created with their foundation. Furthermore, the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation helps kids who don’t have cancer learn about cancer and allows them to be able to do something to help fight cancer (by holding a lemonade stand), and it gives hope to kids who do have cancer.

When my sister and I were younger, we found a book called Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand. This book is a picture book written by Alex’s parents that tells you a little about Alex and her first lemonade stand. After reading this book my sister and I were inspired. We loved that there was a way for kids like us to help fight cancer. My sister and I both thought it was amazing that a small girl like Alex could do something so selfless, even when she was dealing with her own cancer, so we decided we wanted to have our own lemonade stand to raise money for Alex’s cause. Ever since then we've been having lemonade stands over the summer to help raise money for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. I am truly fascinated by Alex, and she makes me realize that no one is too small to make a difference in this world.

Overall, the Alex’s Lemonade Stand foundation deserves to be publicized and represented by me. Why shouldn’t it? It is an inspiration for kids all over, and as I said earlier, the foundation has already raised over $80 million since Alex had her first lemonade stand, and there is much more to come. Alex Scott is proof that no one is too small to make a difference, so when life gives you lemons make lemonade, and support the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation - Fighting Childhood cancer one glass at a time.

It is now our turn to help Alex, so please help me reach my goal of $1000.

Thank you for your support,

Anisha