Each year I choose a different deserving charity to raise money for in conjunction with my running the NYC Half Marathon, and this year I am thrilled to be raising funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, an amazing organization committed to combatting childhood cancer through research funding and providing support and resources to families of kids fighting cancer.  As you may know, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope.  

To date, ALSF has raised more than $100 million and funded over 475 research projects towards the goal of putting an end to childhood cancer. In addition to funding cutting-edge research into finding better treatments and, ultimately, cures, they also fund nursing grants to improve the quality of life and care of children with cancer.  While the majority of their funding goes toward research, ALSF is also intensely aware of the struggles--emotional, financial, and others--that families face throughout their battle with childhood cancer, and has created programs for assistance.  The Travel For Care Program helps families with travel expenses as they travel far from their home for their child's treatments, and their annual Childhood Cancer Symposium brings childhood cancer families together to learn about the disease, treatment and beyond.   

I hope you will join me in supporting this amazing organization with whatever you are able to give, large or small, and help improve the lives of these kids, like Tony below, and put an end to childhood cancer.