The Millcreek Township School District raised $2,708.09 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, making it the fourth annual donation to the childhood cancer-fighting organization. Alex’s Lemonade Stand started in the front yard of a cancer patient, Alexandra (Alex) Scott, and was then developed into Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. 

The money raised for the foundation is used for further research and search for cures for pediatric cancer. According to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s website, “ALSF also provides emotional, financial and logistical support to childhood cancer families that makes their challenges more manageable.” 

Colleen Pagano, a business and information technology teacher at McDowell High School, heads the collection efforts in Millcreek in memory of her child, Nicholas, who she lost to a form of pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma. “He handled these adversities much better than most adults and continued to battle until his last day, Jan. 22, 2009,” Pagano said. 

This year,  McDowell raised a total of $951, a higher total than the $610.50 that McDowell raised last year. At McDowell these donations were collected through the sale of lemon cutouts for $1 each. Donations were also made at the McDowell homecoming game and the faculty and staff raised money through a jeans day on Sept. 27.