As many of you know, there are hundreds of clubs at Brandeis! And sometimes, incredible new clubs are formed without many students realizing it. I certainly think that the Brandeis Chapter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand falls into that category. Co-founder Annie Ciu (who etablished the club along with Riayn Rosenstock) was kind enough to agree to an interview with Her Campus!
HER CAMPUS: What is Alex’s Lemonade Stand (for HC Brandeis readers who have not heard of it before)?
ANNIE CIU: It all started out with a young girl named Alex, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before the age of one. She started holding lemonade stands in her neighborhood in order to raise money to give to doctors to help other kids like her, but she was so successful and her cause attracted so much attention that she raised $1 million before she passed away at the age of eight. It’s truly an amazing story, and her parents then started this foundation after her death to continue her legacy. Now, it has grown into a national foundation and has raised over $60 million toward pediatric cancer research. Also, the foundation focuses on raising awareness and empowering others to get involved and help out toward the goal of finding a cure.
HC: When was the Brandeis Chapter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand founded?
AC: Riayn and I started talking to the foundation about starting a Brandeis chapter in the spring of our freshman year. Riayn was involved in the club at her high school and really hoped to bring the cause to Brandeis. Together, we talked to the Senate and other students on campus, and this fall, we were able to get the club recognized and have held our first few events.
HC: What inspired you two to found a Brandeis Chapter?
AC: The foundation is truly inspirational and amazing in what they hope and have managed to do. We were really moved by the cause and the success of the foundation. We knew we wanted to get involved and help out and hoped to encourage other Brandeis students along with us. Also, after meeting the people who are in charge of the foundation and hearing Jay and Liz Scott speak about their daughter and the foundation really motivated us to make our chapter a success as well.
HC: What are your goals?
AC: We hope to raise more awareness about pediatric cancer on campus by getting a higher profile on campus. This semester we are hoping to hold some successful events.
[ED. NOTE: The group held a lemonade stand in the Usdan Student Center on Wednesday, March 20!]
HC: How can a student get involved with your chapter?
AC: We have meetings every other Monday at 10 p.m. Our location is currently being changed, but anyone who is interested in getting involved should email Annie at acui15@brandeis.edu or Riayn at rrose@brandeis.edu! We welcome all new members!