Volvo Matching Every Donation To Childhood Cancer Fundraiser

ARLINGTON, VA — Volvo Cars is matching dollar for dollar every donation made to Nathan's Cancer Slayers Sept. 9-12 as part of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's Million Mile challenge to raise awareness and critical funds for childhood cancer research.

Childhood cancer research receives just 4 percent of the annual federal budget for the National Cancer Institute. This small amount highlights the importance of philanthropic funding to advance research that pushes cutting-edge projects forward and saves lives.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation holds the Million Mile challenge every September, which is childhood cancer awareness month. The monthlong challenge is the largest annual fundraising campaign for childhood cancer.

Donations can be made all month to Nathan's Cancer Slayers, a team set up in partnership with Alex's Lemonade Stand. By donating to Nathan’s Cancer Slayers during the four-day Volvo matching period of the Million Mile challenge, though, the fundraising team can double its impact on children fighting cancer.

All funds that Nathan's Cancer Slayers raise will support research at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, where Nathan Fleming, a student at Arlington’s Washington-Liberty High School, received treatment for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive soft-tissue cancer that grows in muscle cells.

Nathan, a vibrant and energetic teenager who never missed a day of school, was diagnosed with cancer right after his 17th birthday. He died a week after his 18th birthday in September 2019.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 19 in the country. One in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they are 20 years old.

One donation suggestion for the community is to give $20 in honor of Nathan, who would be turning 20 on Sept. 20.

Michele Fleming, Nathan's mother, said her family would be grateful for any contribution to take advantage of the Volvo Cars match from Sept. 9-12.

SEE ALSO: Pupatella Hosts Cancer Fundraiser In Honor Of Arlington Teenager

Other major donors to Nathan’s Cancer Slayers are Pupatella; Pie-Tanza, which is donating 10 percent of all sales every Tuesday in September and on Nathan's birthday on Sept. 20; Brown's Arlington Honda; Capital Laser & Skin Care; Preservation Biscuit Company; The Redstone Group; and Indigo Integrative Health Clinic.

Alex's Lemonade Stand is a national organization named after the frontyard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Since Alex died at the age of 8, the foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement.

Fleming and the Nathan’s Cancer Slayers team raised $500 at Pupatella in Arlington on Aug. 31. The funds raised at Pupatella will be matched, which means the team raised $1,000 last week.

The Million Mile 2021 campaign runs from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30. The public also can make donations on Nathan's team website and can learn more about Nathan on his Childhood Cancer Heroes page.