While most Penn State students support pediatric cancer research through February's Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, Theta Alphi Pi sorority members are finding a different way to contribute to the cause.

The service sorority will operate a lemonade stand from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow outside the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., to help raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand, a foundation created to fund research for neuroblastoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer.

According to www.alexslemonade.com, this form of cancer is the deadliest for children. However, there is little known about a cure because of a lack of money available for research.

At 4 years old, Alexandra "Alex" Scott, had already lived with the disease for four years.

She asked her mother if she could run a lemonade stand in front of her home in West Hartford, Conn., where all proceeds would go to "her hospital," Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

When she moved to Wynnewood, proceeds went to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Though Alex lost her battle with cancer in August, the fund continues to grow and lives on in her memory.

As of this summer, Alex's Lemonade Stand had raised more than $900,000 for the cause.

The sorority will contribute the proceeds they make this weekend to Alex's $1 million goal for pediatric cancer research.

Nelda Siemion, Children's Hospital director of development, said various donations have helped to continue funding for cancer research.

"Over $350,000 has been pledged and donated to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to conduct groundbreaking clinical research in neuroblastoma and other pediatric cancer research and care," she said in an e-mail message.

Gillian Frisch (junior-recreation, park and tourism management), a Theta Alpha Pi member, suggested the idea of holding the lemonade stand as a service project.

She added that she was familiar with the fundraiser because of its increasing occurrences in Philadelphia and the media attention Alex's story has received there as well.

Frisch said the lemonade will not be sold at a set price, but instead will be distributed on a donation basis.

Sorority philanthropy chair Jennifer Lane (senior-secondary education) said sorority members welcomed the idea, and bringing Alex's Lemonade Stand to Penn State was fairly easy.

"A lot of the girls from Philadelphia have heard about the lemonade stand before because that's where Alex is from," Lane said.

Sorority member Michele Jarchin (junior-journalism) said the Purdue game would provide a good opportunity to reach out to the downtown crowds usually seen on football weekends.

"This is a project we are hoping to do on multiple occasions," she said. "There is always such a great turnout before football games, and we are having the table in a great location, so we are hoping that we will be successful with all the people out in the town."

Frisch said she would like to see the Penn State community contribute tomorrow.

"I encourage everyone to come out to College Avenue and support the cause," Frisch said of the lemonade sale.