Cancer Awareness
Some years ago, a very good friend and neighbor of ours in Monroe, N.Y. died of cancer. She was the kind of person who would avoid stepping on an ant, “because it is alive.” She used to come over and take our Labrador, Doogie Bowser, for walks in the woods near our home while we were at work. Doogie loved Linda; we all loved Linda. Cancer got her at 35 years old. We could do nothing but support her and her family as best we could. The worse part was having to witness her sign her will.
Alex Scott was a Volvo for Life Award recipient in 2003. I met Alex Scott when she came to the event and I was struck by how she accepted what was happening and how she wanted, no needed, to help other children. Below are two ways we can all help children fight cancer.
September marks the start of a new school year and National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. This new beginning serves as a reminder that some children are not so lucky. For the 12,500 children diagnosed with cancer in the United States this year, this special month magnifies the reality that they may be in the hospital and miss the joy of the first day of school and other milestones.
While Alex died before she was able to start third grade, her legacy began at the age of 4 when she started a lemonade stand to raise money to find a cure for children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fund-raising movement, complete with thousands of volunteers across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) has raised more than $25 million towards fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure for all childhood cancer. To buy a virtual cup of lemonade, go to https://www.lemonadestandforlife.com/. Each cup is only $1.
As a founding sponsor, Volvo is helping ALSF in leading the effort to bring national attention to September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Your donation to ALSF made in September will go to ALSF’s Travel Fund, which helps families gain easier access to care and clinical trials at hospitals outside of their hometown. For more information about the Travel Fund and its guidelines, visit http://www.alexslemonade.org/travel-fund.
Thank you for helping fulfill Alex’s dream of a day when every child with cancer can be guaranteed a cure.
Dan
