DANVILLE , IL (09/25/2010)(readMedia)-- Four Danville Campus Lakeview College of Nursing students have built a lemonade stand this semester with the hope of raising money and awareness for childhood cancer.

Melissa Balanon of Chicago, IL, Tyler Keely of Oswego, IL, Ashley Polnitz of Peoria, IL, and Kirk Sanford of Edwardsville, IL, have joined forces in order to "help find a cure for childhood cancer," said Balanon. Their efforts will be in collaboration with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation that was founded by a 4 year old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott, Balanon further explained.

"The foundation initially caught our attention because of the work it does with raising money and awareness for childhood cancer research but when we got in contact with the foundation, they told us about Club Alex. Club Alex is the opportunity for colleges and universities to bring ALSF to their schools and local communities and Lakeview is the first school to do this. Essentially, we are the pioneers of this program so this project really means a lot to us," stated Polnitz.

According to the "Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation" (ALSF) website, www.Alexslemonade.org, Scott was diagnosed with childhood cancer prior to her first birthday. When she was 4 years old she wanted to set up a lemonade stand in her front yard so that she could raise money and give it to doctors to find a cure.

Her first "Alex's Lemonade Stand" raised $2,000 in one day. As news spread of this remarkable girl, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands-donating the proceeds to her cause.

"Childhood cancer is often times overlooked and does not have the recognition it needs. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States today," said Sanford.

"By holding an Alex's Lemonade Stand in our community, we are carrying on Alex's dream to help find better treatments and ultimately cures, something that is vastly overlooked," Keely explained.

Although Alex passed away in 2004 at the age of 8 her foundation has raised more than $35 million, with more than $12 million of those dollars coming from lemonade stands. Monies raised have funded research projects, created a travel program to help support families of children receiving treatment, and developed resources to help people affected by childhood cancer.

Events planned by the group from Lakeview include the following:

• Wed., September 29 from 6 -9 pm – Lakeview Lemonade night for ALSF at Buffalo Wild Wings in Danville, IL.

• Friday, Oct. 8 from 9 am – 2 pm – Lemonade Stand and Baked Goods at WalMart in Danville, IL.

• Mon., Oct. 25 – Lakeview Lemonade night for ALSF at Monicals Pizza in Danville, Tilton and St. Joseph, IL.

• On-line donations through http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/69190

Posted Saturday September 25, 2010 at 06:00 am by Lakeview College of Nursing
Last Updated Monday September 27, 2010 at 03:59 pm