AIS West Teacher, Students Raise Cancer Funds, Awareness

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The students in Amy Adams' 5th-grade class at Avon Intermediate School West embraced the opportunity to raise funds — and awareness — in a really sweet way.

They collected loose change throughout the month to donate to a special organization. Then, in a nifty content connection with recent Science lessons about suspensions, they mixed lemonade and handed it out to school administrators, teachers, and friends. Their energy and excitement helped raise awareness across AIS West about childhood cancer.

For Mrs. Adams, this is a project that is especially close to her heart. We conducted the following interview via email. It has been lightly edited to fit in this format:

Where did the idea come from to have your students raise funds and operate a lemonade stand?

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is a national organization that raises funds for cancer research. I wanted to draw awareness to the organization as well as childhood cancer. It made me excited ... to see how much little kids really do care about others. I thought it would be a great opportunity to spread awareness but also teach empathy and the importance of giving back to others.

How did they raise funds, and how much did they raise?

I know times are tough financially for everyone right now. I didn’t want people to feel obligated to send in dollar bills. I made it optional to bring in change and gave each student in my homeroom and switch class an Alex’s Lemonade Stand donation box. I was blown away by their participation. We raised $275.25.

You have a personal connection to this cause. Do you mind sharing?

When my Parker was starting his 5th grade year at AIS West, he came home the first week of school with a low-grade fever. We almost blew it off, but took him to the doctor anyway. His pediatrician took one look at him and thought he looked pale. Her husband just happens to be the head oncologist at Riley. She took his lab results home and showed her husband that night. The next day we were admitted to Riley where we found out he had stage 4 neuroblastoma. He had tumors on his lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, vena cava, and engulfing his aorta. Tumors had also spread to 88% of his bone marrow. From there he did four rounds of chemo, surgery to remove the leftovers, stem cell transplant, radiation, and immunotherapy treatment. A year and a half later he was cancer free. He’s been cancer free for nine years and is now a sophomore studying pharmacy at Bulter University.

When my son was in treatment we learned of [Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation]. It has been exciting to tell my son's story [and to let others know] about the organization.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. What do you want readers to be aware of?

Families all over are affected by cancer, but childhood cancer is the least funded of all. My son’s oncologist was a recipient years ago of an Alex’s Lemonade Stand donation. Alex, [the namesake of] the foundation passed away in 2004, 10 years before my son was diagnosed with the same cancer that she had. I know that because of fundraising, Parker was able to get new and better treatment that essentially saved his life.

How can people participate?

Visit alexslemonade.org to learn how you can help. Riley Hospital for Children also has many ways to volunteer or donate.

Is there anything else you want readers to know?

I’m so thankful for my girls, Sophia and Lily, for sacrificing time with my husband, Scott, with me, and with Parker while he was in treatment. I’m thankful for the community, my students, the staff of AISW and my principal, Amber Walters for supporting the cause.

We're thankful for you, Mrs. Adams, for sharing your story and for engaging your incredible students in such a worthwhile cause!