She lays in the hospital bed, her eyes shut, as hushed tones from the machine repeats beside her. The curtains in the room are drawn shut, but the warm sun rays still find a way to float onto the side of her bed; the sun kissing her delicate skin, warming her inside and out. Her tender smile embraces her mother as she walks into the room. That smile, unselfish and loving, reflects an internal glow, present in her spirit of knowing of her plans to assist other patients like her. In the subtle confines of her hospital room, Alexandra “Alex” Scott is planning to give the gift of compassion. Slowly but confidently she takes her mother’s hand. The idea of a lemonade stand to give back to other patients was born.

Alex Scott, just days before her first birthday, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma; a cancer that is mainly found in the small glands above the kidneys.. At the age of four, with the help of her older brother, Patrick, she opened her first lemonade stand. Her family raised $ 2,000 dollars which was given to her hospital. Scott passed away at the age of eight, her fight coming to an end, but her dream to help other kids with illnesses similar to hers continued to blossom long after.

The ALSF, also known as Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, goes to one state each month, for example they came to Missouri in September, to raise money.  Royals left fielder Alex Gordon’s significant other, Jamie Gordon, has been a proud supporter of the charity for ten going on eleven years. Due to her support ALSF came to Kansas City looking for help and support like his.

Soon the torch of help was passed to the school district where, from September 19th  to September 23rd, the high school has been raising money, selling lemonade to help kids like Alex. Senior, Tanna Miller, one of the leaders of CORP, Community Outreach of RayPec, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand, decided to do this event.

“Me and my siblings were talking and decided to do one big event for each month or season. Lemonade seemed like an easy thing to do and the charity had a good cause, so we did it ” said Miller.

The lemonade stand was a group project and effort. Everyone needed to lend a hand for the charity to work without a hitch.

“Most people have a part, like working the lemonade stand or making the signs, have a functioning part to help out,” said Miller.

When CORP decided to do the charity, the next thing was how to figure some flavors. CORP took a vote with the whole club to see what lemonade flavors would be served each day of the charity.

“We took a vote, there were 12 different options, then we tallied it up to see which won” said

Miller.

Everyone had their reasons to work the stand as whether it be personal or professional. For Miller though, she worked the stand on days to make sure the operation was running smoothly and she could be at ease that everything was going according to plan.

“To make sure everyone was doing their part for the event” said Miller.

There were some goals set, the goal for ALSF was not a money amount but a cup amount. Miller and CORP had hoped for the charity to work out well and set a high goal.

“The minimum goal was three hundred cups” said Miller.

Miller was proud of CORP and was glad to have worked the stand. It made her happy to see that everyone did their part and put a lot of effort into the charity. Miller was glad to have sponsor Cecil’s help to organize and support the charity.

“I am glad everybody helped out, and I’m especially thankful for Mr. Short’s help “ said Miller .

The lemonade stand was popular with the students as much as the club. Junior, Jillian Killpack, was one of the customers of the lemonade. Killpack was happy to see the school helping out in something that didn’t directly affect them. The charity was an act of selflessness and not one of alternative motive.

“It’s nice of them to do something like this,” said Killpack.

The stand was popular with both student and teacher and it didn’t go unnoticed. CORP helped make a difference by helping even if it was a small effort it had a big reward. The high school helped further Scott’s dream to help others and prevent other children from having the same fate by donating to research.

Eye-Catching Colors. Selling lemonade on Tuesday, CORP passed out strawberry lemonade, a favorite of Jillian Killpack. The lemonade was chosen by tallying up many different flavors to see which ones were favored most.

Smile of Hope. Drinking her frozen lemonade, Angel Patterson smiles, being one of many students that supported Alex’s Lemonade Stand that week.