By Rob Adams
Sentinel Reporter
Look! Up there on the Avenue. It’s…a lemon?
Why yes. Yes it is.
Jeff Snyder is the CEO of Inspira Marketing Group, based in South Norwalk. His daughter, Kennedy, was diagnosed at age two with an anaplastic astrocytoma in her spine.
September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, so what better time than to find Jeff Snyder in a lemon suit?
“I will do anything to raise money for this wonderful cause,” he said.
Snyder is running to support Alex’s Million Mile, part of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation created to raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily research into new treatments and cures.
Yet more than that, their website says that part of their mission is “To encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.”
The humble beginnings of Alex’s Lemonade Stand involved Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who held her first fundraiser in her front yard in Manchester, CT at the age of four. That lemonade stand raised over $2,000 and gave rise to a foundation that would collect over $1 million dollars by 2004.
Sadly, Alex died of neuroblastoma that August. She was only eight years old.
Alex’s family has built the Lemonade Stand foundation into one that is recognized across the United States. According to their website, “Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $150 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 800 research projects nationally.”
Kristy Snyder, Jeff’s wife, said that their daughter Kennedy has fought cancer and it played a role in where they are today. Kennedy she attends Wilton High School and though her tumor is still present, it remains stable.
“After battling cancer for four years, she came out of remission and we immediately hooked up with Jay and Liz Scott, who run Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation,” she said.
Jay and Liz Scott are Alex’s parents. Kristy added that Jay Scott and Jeff Snyder have since become close friends.
“About five years ago, the guys challenged each other to run across the Grand Canyon and to run as much as they can during the month of September,” she said. “That turned into what is now known as Alex’s Million Mile Run.”
To that end, Snyder has run the Grand Canyon twice. That’s not a mistake.
“It’s an opportunity to challenge your friends to join in the fight against pediatric cancer – to raise awareness – and to walk a mile in the shoes of a parent of a child with cancer,” she added. “That’s the goal of the whole month.”
The Snyder’s, who live in Wilton, run Warriors for a Cure, which works in conjunction with Alex’s Lemonade Stand. They organize other runs and events to raise money for the cause.
“We rally our team to come out during the month of September,” Jeff said of the effort put in by those at his company, as well as other supporters.
He said the group focuses on fun runs, such as wearing a lemon suit.
“This is such a giving community that people were reaching into their wallets to help support the cause on the spot” he said of Greenwich. “It’s a testament to this phenomenal place.”
Kristy Snyder allowed that people need to talk more about pediatric cancer.
“Awareness of so important,” she said. “It’s time to support children with cancer. Only four percent of money raised actually for cancer is allocated towards pediatric cancer.”
Indeed, the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer backs up the stat that four percent of the National Cancer Institute budget goes to research for pediatric cancer.
So the Snyder’s, Scott’s, and other families are determined to do that. Even it means wearing a lemon suit.
“It draws attention,” Kristy said. “People love the lemon suit.”
“We scared a few kids and we delighted a few kids,” said Jeff.
Still, it’s not all fun.
“I’ll tell you this lemon suit is not breathable,” he said.
