Childhood cancer awareness means that there is so much HOPE for the future! But, it also means that there is so much more that needs to be done because I want to live in a world where ALL childhood cancer patients become childhood cancer SURVIVORS! 

When awareness is brought to childhood cancer, it means a few things: 

1. More individuals become aware of the facts, statistics, and research surrounding childhood cancer. The more that individuals become aware, the more that they can support research and also spread awareness for childhood cancer.
2. There is exciting progress being made in the childhood cancer research space, allowing us to give hope to more children and families around the world. It is incredible to see how much progress ALSF has been able to sponsor and support over the last 20 years! We are making STRIDES! 
3. There are people in our world, like all of us supporting ALSF, that want to make a difference and see 100% of children with cancer be cured and live a normal childhood. We won’t stop fighting and spreading awareness until this becomes our reality! 

It is our duty to spread childhood cancer awareness every day of the year—giving hope to more families within the childhood cancer community and getting others to rally for the cause. I encourage you all to read and share stories about childhood cancer patients, angels, and survivors. Their stories all show strength, courage, and resilience, and sharing their story with others will bring more awareness, leading us closer to finding cures. It’s thanks to individuals who spread awareness for childhood cancer years ago that I am here today. Now, as a childhood cancer survivor, I am using my voice to bring awareness so that all children with cancer can be cured and live their lives to the fullest! 

I am so honored and proud to be an ambassador for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which does a phenomenal job spreading awareness for childhood cancer and offering hope to families that hear the words “Your child has cancer.”  It’s thanks to Alex Scott’s vision that cures are being found and treatment options are becoming better for children with cancer. I will continue to honor and support Alex’s legacy by spreading awareness and fundraising for such an important cause. It’s the HOPE for a future where all childhood cancer patients become childhood cancer survivors that drives me to keep fighting, and, hopefully, it will encourage you to bring awareness to the cause too.

About Samantha Panasewicz
Samantha first heard about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation when she was an intern at Northwestern Mutual in 2019. She helped with a lemonade stand and met Liz and Jay Scott, ALSF co-executive directors and Alex Scott’s parents. Samantha now works full time for Northwestern Mutual, a corporate partner of ALSF since 2012. 

In 2025, Samantha hosted her first official ALSF event in honor of her Golden Birthday and the 15-year anniversary of her childhood cancer diagnosis. She raised over $28,000 for ALSF at her event and continues to fundraise, share her story, and advocate for more childhood cancer research.