Alex’s Lemonade Stands Are Fighting Childhood Cancer One Cup at a Time

Whether watching a double-header or stepping out to play a friend in a game of tennis this weekend, there will be plenty of ice cold thirst-quenching Smuckers Lemonade available at one of the Alex’s Lemonade Stands in Stow Friday and Saturday.

Teresa’s Pizza, located at 4161 Steels Pointe Rd., will join the fight against childhood cancer on Friday as organizers host Alex’s Lemonade Stand from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Studio Luxe Salon, located at 4294 Kent Rd., will also host a lemonade stand Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will also raffle a Little Tikes Neighborhood Market.

“Teresa’s Pizza and Studio Luxe Salon are two new stands which are part of our grandstand group,” said Maureen Huscroft, volunteer coordinator of the northeast Ohio-area grandstand. “Although, many of the people hosting this year have been involved in the past, but have branched out to different locations in Stow this year.”

The grandstand which consists of 19 lemonade stands – 16 in northeast Ohio (Summit and Portage Counties) and one in Cincinnati, Illinois and Georgia – have collectively raised $90,000 since 2005. The goal for the grandstand this year is to raise $25,000.

The hosts of each lemonade stand make a commitment to the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, and each operates independently, donating all proceeds to the foundation. Each stand is hosted in honor of a child who has been diagnosed with cancer.

According to Huscroft, Little Tikes of Hudson has donated 20 Little Market play stands to 20 grandstands across the country. The J. M. Smucker Company of Orrville donated all lemonade to the northeast Ohio grandstand for the second consecutive year.

Many families and children are getting involved to help kids, and due to the nationwide support, Alex’s Lemonade Stand has become symbolic for the fight against childhood cancer.

Huscroft and her family act as leaders of the fundraising day and will also host their own lemonade stand in Kent this weekend.   

“We take whatever anyone is willing to give,” said Huscroft. “One hundred percent of the proceeds are donated to the Foundation and are spent on research and travel funds for families in need when they are receiving treatment.”

The idea for hosting the northeast Ohio area lemonade stands began after learning about the story of Alexandra “Alex” Scott while attending the Kentucky Derby in 2005, according to Huscroft.

“There was a horse named Afleet Alex with whom the story of Alex Scott was connected — a certain percentage of the horse’s winnings were being donated to the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation,” she said. “Alex Scott, who was from the Philadelphia area, was diagnosed with brain cancer just before her first birthday. She started the lemonade stand in her home area at just four years old to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer.”

The Huscrofts, who are parents of four, felt it was very important to show their children the importance of getting involved.

“My husband and I decided to see if our kids would want to host a lemonade stand that year to help raise money. So we had a stand at the end of our driveway and raised $649,” she said.

The following year, the family enlisted the help of friends, other family members, school friends, sports friends and anyone who would help. They ultimately hosted four stands that year, and their efforts have continued to grow since.

“Community support has been amazing — it’s grown to a point where people know what it is, look forward to it and some people will plan to go to a stand or a couple different stands. It is because so many people are involved, and the community supports it that we have been so successful as a group,” said Huscroft.