Hammer To The Forge

During my years of attending children’s birthday parties, bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah celebrations, I have always been impressed when the host declines to accept gifts and instead makes a contribution, or asks guests to make a contribution to his or her favorite charitable organization.  I’ve even attended two weddings where the bride and groom eliminated party favors and elected to make charitable donations instead.

Well, this year, as I approach my 50th birthday, I have decide to do the same.  As a birthday celebration that will definitely last longer than a full day, I plan to ride my bicycle from Connecticut to Pennsylvania and raise awareness for pediatric cancer research and also raise funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

I’m proud to say that Alexandra Scott was my niece and the foundation that she formed in her front yard fourteen years ago continues to grow, funding research grants, creating awareness and helping families with pediatric cancer.  Alex died when she was 8-years-old, but with the help of kids all over the country selling lemonade, she had raised more than $1 million to make sure other kids with cancer had a chance to get better.

Please check out my event page at http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1116589  and feel free to pass this email on to anyone else who you believe might be interested.  No contribution is too small.  Think about it…this great organization, which has generated over $80 million to date, started with small donations for cups of lemonade in a little girl’s front yard, so every gesture is truly appreciated.  Thanks for reading my message and let’s continue to build awareness and find cures together.

Aaron