The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

Welcome to The Childhood Cancer Blog
from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation!

In 2013, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation funded researcher Dr. Rebecca Gardner and her team at Seattle Children’s Hospital began enrolling patients in what was a crazy, sci-fi-esque trial at the time. The trial engineered a child’s immune system and turned those cells in cancer killers. 

“I still remember the first patient we infused, and in my heart I wanted it to work so badly and in my head I was like, ‘There’s no way this is going to work,’” recalls Dr. Gardner, who is now at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. 

At the same time, 175 miles away in Portland ,Oregon... Read More

  • This year 17,000 children were diagnosed with childhood cancer. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.
  • Childhood cancer affects the entire family. SuperSibs, a program of ALSF, provides comfort and care support to siblings. Photo by John Ransom.
  • Each year, ALL survivor Mia hosts a lemonade stand with her SuperSib Gabby
  • Flashes of Hope has photographed over 1,500 families. Photo by Wendy Zins

Melissa Bento’s daughters Mia and Gabby were in elementary school when an acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis changed their family forever. Mia, who was just 5 years old, faced grueling treatments. Gabby, who was just 8 years old, faced time on the sidelines of the fight. Her mom signed her up for ... Read More

  • Philip, who diagnosed at 3 years old with neuroblastoma, looks on as his mom Wendy meets Alex Scott's mom, Liz, for the first time. Both mothers shared the bond of having children who faced ALK-driven neuroblastoma.
    Philip, who diagnosed at 3 years old with neuroblastoma, looks on as his mom Wendy meets Alex Scott's mom, Liz, for the first time. Both mothers shared the bond of having children who faced ALK-driven neuroblastoma.
  • Arden is now 5 years old. Like Philip, she was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. This year, the results of the trial that saved her life were published in Nature Medicine.
    Arden is now 5 years old. Like Philip, she was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. This year, the results of the trial that saved her life were published in Nature Medicine.
  • ALSF funded-researcher Dr. Yael Mossé (pictured above) is the lead author on a new paper published in Nature Medicine. The paper shares the results of Dr. Mossé’s clinical trial for lorlatinib, a targeted therapy that showed success treating children with neuroblastoma tumors harboring the ALK mutation.
    ALSF funded-researcher Dr. Yael Mossé (pictured above) is the lead author on a new paper published in Nature Medicine. The paper shares the results of Dr. Mossé’s clinical trial for lorlatinib, a targeted therapy that showed success treating children with neuroblastoma tumors harboring the ALK mutation.

In 2023, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation saw all the hard work, dedication and research pay off in a big way for children with cancer. From high-impact publications to breakthroughs to funding new projects, ALSF continued its commitment to finding safer treatments and cures for all childhood with cancer.

The best part: It is all fueled by lemonade. 

Here are the top childhood cancer research stories from 2023:

1.    Over 100 awarded grants—114 to be exact--funded in 2023

From extending grant funding for researchers close to breakthrough to funding student... Read More

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