Lemon Run: Making strides against childhood cancer

Every day, approximately 250 kids around the world die from cancer, accounting for 91,250 losing their lives to the disease every year. The hope for a cure never dies though. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, started by a young cancer patient, Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004) with a simple lemonade stand, raises money and awareness about pediatric cancer every year as a part of their mission to find a cure. This year's The Lemon Run will be held Sunday, November 9.

Amongst the participants this year will be special teams who are running in the name of a specific child hero. Team Erin is in honor of Diane Moore's daughter who like Alex Scott died after a long battle with cancer.

Erin was diagnosed at 20 months old with ependymoma, a brain tumor. She underwent surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and received various treatments, but unfortunately lost her fight when she was six and a half years old. Erin's family runs every year in the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's The Lemon Run to help fund research for pediatric cancers to provide better hope for other children.

"Erin was being treated at the same time as Alex. That is how we heard about her story," Moore explained. "We have been doing the Lemon Run for six years now and we have close to 100 people running for us this year."

Moore who lives in Collegeville runs her own pediatric cancer foundation in her daughter's name, the Erin Delia Moore Fund for Children with Cancer, but they also support the Lemon Run every year.  "It is a great event," she said.

Team Little Lucy will be making strides in honor of Kristen Littlefield's daughter Lucy who has had her own battle with cancer. When she was just 10 weeks old in April of 2009, her parents took her in for a follow up visit for an ear infection when the doctor became concerned that her liver was enlarged. An MRI uncovered a tumor in her liver and after surgery at CHOP she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage 4S low risk which has a 90% survival rate.

"She was carefully watched to see if the cancer would progress. This particular type of cancer has been known to regress on its own, and that was what we were hoping for," said Littlefield. "After watching it for a few weeks, the cancer wasn't going away on its own, so Lucy underwent two doses of chemotherapy and was carefully watched again."

Three months later in September of 2009, the cancer was gone. This past year, Lucy celebrated five years as survivor and to celebrate instead of having a party, she held a special lemonade stand and raised $5,300 for the foundation.

"We have been a part of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation since Lucy was going through chemo," Littlefield who lives in Gibbsboro, New Jersey said. "My aunt initiated the first lemonade stand and every year we do our own team stand as well as the Lemon Run." Team Little Lucy has close to twenty people running so far this year.

"For our family, we knew that even after Lucy's battle with cancer was over, that we would continue to do our part to fight cancer. We wanted to pay it forward," she added.

"The foundation really takes you under their wings and you become a part of each other's family. It is nice to know that you are not alone."

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's 5K Run/Walk and Kids' Dash, The Lemon Run Philadelphia will run on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 8:00a.m. at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. Participants are encouraged to register in advance to receive the reduced rates of $35 (5K Runner – timed), $25 (5K Walker – not timed) and $15 per child, ages 10 and under (100 meter kids' dash). Registration is also available on the day of the event, but increased rates will apply.

Even if you are not running, the Lemon Run is open to all supporters and running enthusiasts. In addition to the 3.1 mile course, The Lemon Run is a family friendly event, which includes a kids' dash and various forms of entertainment, music and guest speakers.

Check in the day of the event begins at 7am; the kids' dash will start at 8am; and the 5K Run/Walk will begin at 8:30am. For more information on the event, to volunteer, register or become a sponsor, visit LemonRun.org. Questions may be directed to Selina Poiesz at (866) 333-1213 or S.Poiesz@AlexsLemonade.org. For more information about Team Lemon which is the foundation's national athletic program, visit TeamLemon.org.