Alexandra Scott, 8; Her Lemonade Stands Fund Cancer Research

Alexandra Scott, 8, a cancer patient who started a lemonade stand to make money for cancer research and inspired an international fund-raising campaign, died Sunday at her home in Wynnewood, Pa., of neuroblastoma.

Four years ago, when the family lived in Connecticut, Alex -- who had been diagnosed with cancer as an infant -- told her mother she wanted to sell lemonade and give the proceeds to the hospital where she was being treated. She ran the stand herself and raised $500.

When the family moved to the Philadelphia area in 2001, she set up another stand and raised $12,000. “Alex’s Lemonade Stands” began springing up across the country and on June 12 this year were open for business in all 50 states, Canada and France.

Alex’s goal for the stands this year was $1 million. After volunteers raised $700,000, Volvo of North America assured her that it would sponsor a fund-raising event in the fall to reach her $1-million mark.