By Kristin Halsey

One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of 20. One in every four elementary schools has a child with cancer.

The average high school has two students who are current or former cancer patients.

To help lower these statistics, NMU’s Alex’s Lemonade Stand is hosting its third annual Lemonade Run.

The Lemonade run is a two mile “fun-run” held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Superior Dome.

Ally Markstrom, a senior respiratory therapy major, has been participating in the Lemonade Run since it first began.

“This is my third year doing it and my first time running it. It’s a good way to help raise awareness and raise money,” Markstrom said.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand is a non-profit organization that originated in Philadelphia.

It has now grown to multiple organizations around the United States.

It started because of a four-year-old girl named Alex who suffered from neuroblastoma, an extra cranial solid cancer found in children.

Roughly 50 percent of all cases are found in children less than two years old.

Alex, who knew that her chances of living were slim when the treatment was not reacting, decided that she wanted to make a difference and started selling lemonade to help with pediatric cancer research.

Since the start of the organization in 2004, over $25 million has been raised that is currently funding over 100 research projects.

Alex’s parents created the organization in honor of their daughter and every year hold a Lemonade Run to help raise money for cancer research in their town of Philadelphia.

“It’s nice to have it up here when we can’t make it down to Philadelphia and be at their event,” Markstrom said. “It’s just a good cause for the kids.”

At Northern, it was started by Meghan Connell as a student organization three years ago.

Not only will there be a fun run, but there will also be a silent auction held during the event.

Donations for the silent auction were given by local Marquette businesses who also sponsored the run.

“We needed sponsors and donations and had to go around the local businesses asking for donations for the silent auction or sponsorship to go for the T-shirts and rental fee of the Superior Dome,” Markstrom said.

All of the money raised at the event will further help funding on pediatric cancer research.

“Whatever we have left over that we raised after all the costs gets sent to the organization in Philadelphia,” Markstrom said.

Participants can register at the event at the table in front of the Superior Done.

You can also register ahead of time at www.nmualsf.webs.com.

Each participant pays a $10 registration fee.

For more information on the event Alex’s Lemonade Stand, email Ally Markstrom at [email protected].