Read, Watch or Listen

Stories were sent to us in different formats—Audio, video and written. If you’d like to view stories for any of these formats, use the links below.

Written Stories
Video Stories
Recorded Stories

Share A Story

Do you have a good values-based story to tell? It doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference in someone else’s life.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

When my friend Lesa was diagnosed with cancer I wanted to do something for her, so the first day of her treatments, another friend and I went to the hospital to spend some time with her. We bought her a small clown and named him Lemon-Aide. We gave Lemon-Aide to Lesa and told her he was to go with her to all of her treatments to remind her that we were thinking of her and cared about her even though we could not always be with her. She took Lemon-Aide with her to all of her treatments and when the treatments were completed she said she had enjoyed Lemon-Aide so much when someone else needed him she would pass him along. A few months later much to my surprise it was me that she passed him to. Lemon-Aide went with me to all of my treatments. One day while waiting for my doctor I decided we could market the idea and give the money back to fight cancer. Lesa thought it was a great idea so she and I formed the organization that came to be known as Lemon-Aide’s Friends, Inc. We designed our version of Lemon-Aide to serve as a reminder to someone fighting cancer that there are people who love and care about them even though they can’t always be with them. Today we are an all volunteer 501 (c) 3 organization. The money raised is donated for pain management for cancer patients who do not have insurance. The Physicians on our Board of Advisors determine how and where our money is donated. Lesa and I do not know how Lemon-Aide works, but we do know he works from the stories people who have received a Lemon-Aide share with us. Lemon-Aide is for men, women, and children of all ages and to date has been sent to 34 states and 33 countries to provide smiling support for someone fighting cancer. When life gave us lemons we made Lemon-Aide, a soft smiling clown that represents love, support, and encouragement.

Submitted by Sharon Herndon