Carriage House Estates hosted their first Alex’s Lemonade Stand, on Sat. Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event consisted of a flag ceremony, a prayer, dance stop performances, accordion music, karaoke, raffles and ended with a magic show, all with the goal to raise $1,000.
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States today, according to the brochure given at the Carriage House Estates.
Rhonda Neufeld, enrichment coordinator of Carriage House Estates, came up with the idea of hosting this event while driving down the street and saw a lemonade stand. She recalled Alex’s story and decided to join the cause and support the foundation.
A young girl initiated the history of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation in 2000. Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood neuroblastoma shortly after her first birthday. When she was 4 years old she held her first lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for pediatric cancers. In 2004, Alex, then 8, passed away but a legacy of hope and a foundation was left behind.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is a registered charity and has raised more than $25 million toward Alex’s dream of finding a cure for childhood cancer to date.
Neufeld said she was not sure if this event would be held annually although they did raise more than expected. They raised $1400 toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure to childhood cancer.