A Short Life Inspires Many Others

Alex Scott was a little girl with big problems and big ideas. Her battle with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, cut her eight-year life short in 2004, but her legacy lives on. Her remarkable initiative, to raise awareness and dollars for pediatric cancer research, was the inspiration behind a complete fundraising guide, Alex's Lemonade Stand Book and Kit, published on May 30, by Running Press/Perseus, in time for this year's Alex's Lemonade Stand Weekend.

The annual Alex's Lemonade Stand Weekend is now a national event that has gained support from many individuals, corporations, and small businesses -- including booksellers. Over $1 million has been raised. This year's first national lemonade stand weekend was June 10 - 12 and the next weekend is August 27 - 28. One dollar from the sale of each kit -- which includes publicity information, squeezers, stirrers, and a bandana -- will be donated to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Juvenile Cancer Fund.

Mary Yockey, longtime buyer for Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois, brought a copy of the new book home to her two daughters, Sarah (12) and Kate (almost nine), and plans took shape as quickly as a pitcher of powdered lemonade.

According to Yockey, "The kit was awesome. Sarah loved using it along with the website to prepare a folder with visuals. She presented the information to some local businesses that then donated most of the supplies. The girls, with some friends, set up the stand in front of Anderson's during our member's sale on Sunday and Monday. They made about eight gallons of lemonade and brought in $299.32 for pediatric cancer research. They both enjoyed doing this so much -- they're definitely planning another stand later this summer."

The next Alex's Lemonade Stand Weekend will be August 27 - 28. "The Perseus Books Group and Running Press, in conjunction with BookSense.com, will provide an online link so that customers can go to their bookseller's website and donate from there as well as in person at the lemonade stand," said Anita Perala, Perseus Group marketing director. "We'll also provide downloadable signage that bookstores can use to publicize their Alex's Lemonade Stand and, working with the Scotts [Alex's family], will match up participating bookstores with volunteers in their area to help staff the stand. We also encourage bookstores to partner with local organizations--schools, other businesses, arts organizations -- to raise awareness of the Alex's Lemonade story and to pass this great idea along."

Matty Goldberg, the vice-president of sales and marketing at Perseus Books Group, stated, "This has from the beginning been a grassroots movement, and as vocal, involved members of their communities, independent booksellers can play a key role in getting the word out about Alex's Lemonade Foundation--and have a great time in the process. Alex was one girl who made a huge difference in her community, just as one independent bookseller can make a big difference in a community."

For more information, or to sign up, people may contact Anita.Perala@perseusbooks.com and watch for a flyer in the July red box. -- Nomi Schwartz