Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation & Kate’s Cause Team Up to Fund Childhood Cancer Research

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) has partnered with Kate’s Cause to fund research by Christian Hurtz, PhD of University of Pennsylvania. ALSF and Kate’s Cause share a vision of funding childhood cancer research to ultimately find cures for all children with cancer.

Kate’s Cause was formed after Kate Olivia Rhoades passed away from childhood cancer at the tender age of 4. Kate had recently turned 2 when she was diagnosed with high-risk pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Pre-B ALL). After just over two years, Kate finished treatment and showed no evidence of disease. Kate and her family lived life to the fullest for four months. On January 11, 2016, Kate relapsed. She died just 15 hours later. When she passed, her family promised that her death would not be in vain and launched the cause in her honor and memory to accomplish three goals: Raise awareness, raise funds and give back to the pediatric cancer community.

“Young investigators have a unique and fresh approach to research questions and, under the guidance of their mentors, take that research to the next level,” said Lindsay Rhoades, co-founder of Kate’s Cause and forever Kate’s mom. “We are most excited about new and innovative thinking that breaks the mold of the status quo approach to treating childhood cancers for better and less toxic results for our kids.”

Kate’s Cause will help ALSF fund a Young Investigator Grant for Christian Hurtz, PhD. Dr. Hurtz’s study will focus on Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL), a subtype of B cell ALL. His goal is to identify new treatment strategies that attack multiple pathways that Ph-like ALL cells are driven by, resulting in killing cells more effectively, prevention of chemotherapy resistance and ultimately improving cure rates for children with Ph-like ALL.

For more information about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s charity partnerships, visit AlexsLemonade.org/grants/charity-partners.

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
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, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $150 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 800 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

 

About Kate’s Cause

Kate’s Cause was formed after Kate Olivia Rhoades passed away from childhood cancer at the tender age of four. After she passed, her family promised that her death would not be in vain and launched the cause in her honor and memory to accomplish three goals: Raise awareness, raise funds and give back to the pediatric cancer community. You can learn more about Kate’s Cause on their website, KatesCause.com