Lemonade stands raise money for childhood cancer research

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - For the ninth year in a row, Alex's Lemonade Stands will be selling lemonade at area Hy-Vee stores to raise money to combat childhood cancer.

The Walsh family knows firsthand what the money is used for.

Just before his third birthday, Charlie Walsh started a long and difficult journey.

"He was diagnosed with an extremely rare brain cancer, given less than a five percent chance to live. He went through two years of chemo and six weeks of radiation, and now he's a second grader," his mother, Paige Walsh, explained.

She said the experience was an education nobody wants to have - but is far too common.

“One in 330 Americans under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer every day,” she said.

Charlie's diagnosis was difficult for the entire family. Mac Walsh, Charlie's brother, said it made him want to give back.

So the family decided to organize an Alex's Lemonade Stand to raise money to help kids going through the same thing.

Their goal is to raise $125,000 in two days.

"We were pretty lucky to have a family that stayed so strong throughout everything and the Charlie turned out okay," Mac said.

Their mother agreed.

"It's just something that we know that nobody should have to go through, and Alex's Lemonade Stand to date has raised over $50 million for childhood cancer research," Walsh said.