Lemonade stand raises big bucks for cancer research

This is a wonderful "good news" story. In a sea of negativity, it's great to read this sort of stuff!

Lemonade Stand raises almost $11,000 US for cancer research at Derby
at 19:55 on May 11, 2005, EST.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - How much are 1,500 cups of water, fruit juice and sugar worth?

Almost $11,000 US. That's how much Alex's Lemonade Stand raised at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks last weekend. The Lemonade Stand takes donations for a cup, and donates the money to children's cancer research. A few people gave $100, said Liz Scott, mother of Lemonade Stand founder Alexandra Scott.

Alexandra, diagnosed with cancer two days before her first birthday, started the stand when she was four to raise money for her hospital. Alexandra was eight when she died in August.

Even non-humans helped out. A portion of third-place finisher Afleet Alex's winnings were also donated.

Liz Scott, from Wynnewood, Pa., had been to the races before, "but it's the first time I really paid attention," she said Wednesday.

Afleet Alex is trained by Tim Ritchey and was ridden by Jeremy Rose in the Derby.

"To meet them and see how much all of them were so committed to helping Alex's Lemonade Stand and express how honoured they were to be helping out in any way they could really touched me," Scott said. "They expressed that this had more meaning to them. This was a victory for them, win or lose, to have Alex's Lemonade Stand there and to be representing it."

Alex's Lemonade Stand has also been invited to the Preakness on May 21. Scott is pursuing the goal her daughter set of raising $5 million in 2005.

Last week at Churchill Downs, a breeding season to Northern Afleet, Afleet Alex's sire, was auctioned for $37,000 - all of it going to the lemonade stand. The winning bid was $37,000, by B. Wayne Hughes, who had two horses in the Derby: Don't Get Mad, who was fourth; and Greeley's Galaxy, who was 11th.