Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Marshall County Childhood Cancer Awareness Corporation Team Up to Fund Childhood Cancer Research

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) and Marshall County Childhood Cancer Awareness Corporation (MCCCAC) are continuing their partnership to fund Marie Bleakley, MD/PhD of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. ALSF and the MCCCAC share a vision of funding childhood cancer research to ultimately find cures for all children with cancer.

MCCCAC has been raising awareness and funds throughout Marshall County, WV since July 2016. In April of 2017, MCCCAC donated $25,000 to help ALSF fund a Bio-Therapeutics Grant for Dr. Bleakley. In 2018, MCCCAC has donated an additional $25,000 to ALSF for Dr. Bleakley’s grant.

In the spirit of ALSF founder Alexandra “Alex” Scott’s vision that everyone, everywhere can make a difference in the lives of children with childhood cancer, MCCCAC has truly garnered the support of their local community. They have been the benefactor of a portion of proceeds from the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce annual Tree Gala and the local 14-mile Fish Crick Chick Walk. They’ve sold over 1,700 “Go Gold” t-shirts, with participation from every school in Marshall County, among other grassroots fundraising efforts. In March 2017, MCCCAC received a citation from the House of Representatives of Nicholas County for their awareness and fundraising efforts. They were joined by local childhood cancer hero families in Charleston, WV to receive the honor.

ALSF’s Bio-Therapeutics Impact Grant is designed to accelerate the development of clinical trials for promising biological therapies. Immunotherapies are some of the most promising new treatments. The Bleakley Lab is currently evaluating an immunotherapy to prevent or manage leukemia relapse after blood or marrow transplantation. Based on their findings to date, Dr. Bleakley believes the new immunotherapy will become an important weapon in the fight against childhood leukemia, and help show how to tackle other cancers too. 

“I’m so glad to be partners with such an awesome organization. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation does so much for childhood cancer,” said Brenda Frohnapfel of MCCCAC. “But so much needs to be done. Every person I’ve told about this partnership has applauded it. I don’t think I can put into words how proud I am of this.”

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