When life gave her lemons, Alexandra Flynn Scott made lemonade. A lot of it.

Diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, before she even turned one, her doctors were doubtful that she’d ever walk again. But she did. Then the little girl went on to accomplish much more in her brief childhood than anyone ever expected – or could begin to imagine. And it all started with her wish for a lemonade stand.

“We just thought it was a cute and funny idea,” said Alexandra’s father, Jay, about his daughter’s request. But, when she didn’t let go of the idea and repeatedly asked to have a lemonade stand over the course of a few months, her parents finally acquiesced. The first Alex’s Lemonade Stand was erected on their front lawn. Norman Rockwell would have approved.

While courageously fighting for her life, Alex’s philanthropic spirit rose above the pain and struggles of her debilitating physical issues. When she was only four-years-old, it became apparent the child was mature beyond her years when she later told her parents that she wanted to give the money she got from selling lemonade to the doctors—to allow them to “help other kids, like they helped me.”

She was an “Old Soul”

“I think because she lived with cancer, she was aware of how hard it was . . .” said her mother, Liz. “She was very grateful for the medicine she received and wanted to help other kids with cancer to feel better, too.”

“She was an old soul,” added her father. “We used to call her grandma.”

That first year, the Scotts made $2,000 thanks to their “old soul” of a daughter, whose vision was just beginning. It was the first deposit into what was to become Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

From parent to parent, neighborhood to neighborhood and thirsty customer to thirsty customer, news spread of the child’s desire to help other tiny patients afflicted with cancer, and soon the whole community was touched by her heart and dedication. Over the next four years, while enduring her cancer treatments, she and her family remained faithful to their project of raising money to help aid cancer victims. And through their efforts, people from all over the globe have joined them.

“We never imagined how much it would grow…” said her mother, Liz, of the national foundation which, to date, has brought in over $40 million dollars with the funds supporting over 150 research projects.

Although Alex passed away four years after her project began, at the tender age of eight, by then, she’d help raise over $1 million dollars. Now her legacy lives on through those who have taken her lead and share her vision.

“One Cup at a Time”

The mission of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) has resonated with thousands of people—mostly children, who have become empowered to share the task of supporting other children with cancer “one cup at a time.”

It’s been children helping children, and through their fundraising dollars, ALSF has provided hope and encouragement for children and families who are struggling against this devastating disease. The further task of raising awareness along with funding research grants has come a long way and continues today.

“We’re seeing an increase in donations,” said Liz, who is the Vice President of Outreach and Communications for ALSF. She’s bravely fought the fight with her daughter while successfully managing other parts of her life, including her three boys, Patrick, Eddie and Joey. The toll exacted by Alex’s sickness and death hasn’t distracted her from keeping on top of what’s important.

“At first it was confusing,” she said shortly after Alex passed away. “. . . there’s that part of you that feels really bad and wants to shut the door to the whole world of childhood cancer. But the bigger part and more compelling part was to follow her example…to not carry that on would be like dishonoring her memory. She gave us an opportunity to give to others and help other families. Her mission drove us to keep going . . .”

Team Lemon

Although starting up a summer lemonade stand is the traditional way of raising dollars for ALSF, donations now come from several sources including fundraisers, business partnerships and individual support.

Alex and her improbable story has touched everyone who takes the time to listen to it, from pre-schoolers to seniors. They’ve gotten involved in projects ranging from car washes to bake sales; sporting events to walk-a-thons—all to bring their communities together for one common cause. Now there are even online virtual lemonade stands via the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Fundraising Page where anyone with access to the internet can find a way to take part in the program.

Other possibilities include joining “Team Lemon” where you can run, bike or swim as a team for the cause, or participating in “Lemonade Days” during the summer and become part of a a national effort throughout the country. Generous people have found other creative ways to stage their fundraisers—raffles, contests and give-aways are just the beginning. The spirit of little Alex and her concern for all the other sick kids she met in hospitals and doctors’ offices goes far beyond that original lemonade stand on the lawn.

“The generosity that we’ve witnessed is such a positive thing,” her mother, Liz, says. “The research and new discoveries that continue to impact children with cancer—to see it happening—is amazing. But the hardest part still is getting to know the kids who end up dying – like our Alex.”