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Day Hospital at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Is Named in Honor of Alex Scott

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 December 2005, 12:00 CST

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has named the "Alex Scott Day Hospital" in recognition of a $2 million grant pledged today by Alex's Lemonade Stand, the organization which began in 2000 when 4-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Scott hosted a lemonade stand to raise money for pediatric cancer to help young cancer patients like herself.

"Although Alex died of neuroblastoma, her legacy lives on through the support Alex's Lemonade Stand provides for pediatric cancer research," says John Maris, M.D., Alex's oncologist at Children's Hospital. "The oncology program at Children's Hospital has created a vision to honor and maintain Alex's legacy so that one day, all children with cancer can be cured."

This new $2 million pledge enables Children's Hospital to expand its translational research program in oncology, which aims to understand pediatric cancer at its most basic level and translate these findings into new treatments, and ultimately, a cure for pediatric cancer.

Support from Alex's Lemonade Stand will also continue to connect more children battling neuroblastoma with experimental therapies available at Children's Hospital. These new treatments have proved successful, prolonging the lives of many children with neuroblastoma until a cure can be found.

"Words cannot express what it means to me to know that Alex's name will live on at Children's Hospital," says Liz Scott, Alex's mother. "Alex and I spent many days together in the day hospital. I am sure she would be thrilled that her name will live forever at 'her hospital.' However, the fact that the money donated to Children's Hospital will continue to support the cancer research program is what would have pleased her the most."

Alexandra "Alex" Scott was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system, two days shy of her first birthday. At age four, Alex Scott wanted to raise money to find a cure for cancer "because all kids want their tumors to go away." She began selling lemonade for 50 cents a glass, and soon captured the hearts and support of people throughout the world. Since then, her lemonade stand idea has grown into a nationwide fundraising effort and to date, has raised almost $5 million for pediatric cancer research.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu/.

Media Contact: Rachel Salis-Silverman 267-426-6063 Day of Event: 267-970-3685 Salis@email.chop.edu

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

CONTACT: Rachel Salis-Silverman of The Children's Hospital ofPhiladelphia, +1-267-426-6063, or Day of Event, +1-267-970-3685, orSalis@email.chop.edu

Web site: http://www.chop.edu/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/159681.html

Source: PRNewswire

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