Doing Good
Giving Back and Getting Back
Local teen’s creative fundraising program continues to grow
Peachtree Corners teen, Lex Stolle, was ten years old and just starting fifth grade when he was diagnosed with high-risk, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After the diagnosis, he underwent an initial round of chemotherapy to put the disease into remission, followed by 10 months of intense treatments and another two-and-a-half years of monthly maintenance and nightly medicine to keep it there.
The treatments were hard on his body, limiting his ability to attend school and participate in his usual activities. But his spirit and determination stayed strong. A close-knit family, loving friends and excellent care from the Aflac Center and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta supported him every step of the way. And his own optimistic personality kept him going through even the most difficult moments.
“I claim I’ll live just like my blood type and ‘B positive,’” Lex said of his personal motto. “I value determination, optimism and a deep belief in the bigger plan for my life.”
Now, at 15-years-old, Lex says he’s doing better than ever and is committed to using his experience to help others. One way he’s doing that is through his nonprofit fundraising program, Cancer Card.
A fundraiser that gives back and gets back
A simple but clever idea, Cancer Cards are discount cards connected to restaurants within the community. The participating businesses agree to be part of the program, offering a discount for card users. People buy the cards, which raises money for cancer treatments and research, and then they use the cards to save money when going out to eat — driving business to the local restaurants. It’s a win-win-win for everyone.
The idea for the program came to Lex in 2022.
“As a kid going through childhood cancer, I met a lot of other kids on the same journey as me,” said Lex. “Fortunately, so many of the friends that I made are now healthy and successfully in college or participating in sports in high school. However, I did have some friends that were not able to finish their journey. It made me so upset that a child could never get married, never go to college, never get a job and have kids. I knew we needed a solution to this. I’m not someone that likes just asking for money, so I brainstormed a way for everybody to benefit.”
Continued growth
He initially started out with a focus on Peachtree Corners businesses, selling the discount cards to his own friends and family. The fundraiser quickly grew beyond his immediate circle though, becoming an official nonprofit in 2023.
Since then, the program has grown even larger. This year, the fundraiser offers cards for five communities: Peachtree Corners, Dunwoody, Milton/Alpharetta, Marietta and Athens, with plans to expand beyond that as more and more people learn about the program.
“In the first year, we raised a couple hundred dollars,” Lex shared. “Then last year, we brought in over $8,000, and we are projecting a much higher number this year!”
Ongoing challenges
Though the Cancer Card program has been a success so far, Lex shared that it’s a lot harder to get businesses to sign up than people might think.
“Last year, I reached out to over 340 businesses and went in person for many, yet got responses from less than 10%,” he said. “It’s especially hard to get corporations and chained restaurants.”
As far as getting people to purchase the cards, he said “it’s just about enlightening them of the benefit of it. So many people don’t understand that the card will quite literally save you money over the course of the year. As residents, we all eat at these places anyway, so why not get 10 or 15% off every single time you go?”
He continued, “There’s a common saying that goes, ‘there’s no such thing as a selfless act,’ and while I agree that it can be hard to not think about ourselves 100% of the time, when we do help out others, it carries love to our community that we all so desperately need right now. If we all tried to hold the door for one person a day or pick up a water bottle off the sidewalk, Peachtree Corners would become a much happier, safer and cleaner environment for us all.”
Looking forward
With an admitted passion for finding solutions to problems that are close to his heart, Lex shared that he enjoys speaking publicly for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He hosts his own monthly radio show on WSB Radio called 95.5 WSB Presents: The Children of Children’s. And he likes keeping up with the latest politics.
“While those aren’t typical hobbies for a 15-year-old,” he said, “I wouldn’t change it for the world. Every day I look forward to seeing how many Cancer Cards I sold the day before or checking on the status of legislation to benefit Americans going through cancer diagnoses.”
Looking to the future, this tenth grader at William and Reed Academy has big plans — for himself and for the Cancer Card program.
“It’s not a usual dream job for a sophomore, but I would love to become a federal politician or potentially a lobbyist — for good of course,” he shared. “My hope is that I can stay true to my morals and fight for people with a story similar to mine. I would love to continue Cancer Cards into college, or better yet, find my next passion project that can have an even larger impact not just in Georgia, but all over the United States. I’m excited to see what’s in store for the future of Cancer Cards.”
The details
2024 Cancer Cards are on sale now and active through May 25, 2025. Each card is $25. All proceeds go to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta — the same place where Stolle received his treatment.
Cards can be purchased for Peachtree Corners, Milton/Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Athens and Marietta. The discounts associated with the cards can be used at participating restaurants more than once until the expiration date.
To purchase your cards (or make a tax-deductible donation), visit cancercard.net.
Peachtree Corners resident, Alex Everett traveled to Italy this past September — not as a tourist but as an athlete. The 28-year-old accountant and liver transplant survivor, served as goalkeeper on Team USA as they competed in the first-ever Transplant Football World Cup.
The event — part of the larger World Transplant Games — promoted giving the gift of life through a week of connection and sportsmanship, showcasing how people with organ transplants can live a normal, active life.
“I first heard about the US Transplant World Cup team a few years ago through a social media post,” said Alex. “The first Transplant World Cup was originally going to take place in 2022 but was postponed due to the uncertainty around international travel and COVID. Fast forward to 2024 and Team USA had an interest meeting via Zoom to discuss details about the tournament and fielding the American team.”
Team USA
All together, they had 14 people from around the United States (hailing from Georgia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, California and Hawaii) join the team, which traveled to Cervia, Italy in September to compete.
“There were 10 other countries that were represented in the World Cup, and we were split into two groups, one of five and one of six,” Alex explained.
“It was an incredible experience representing the US at an international level, competing against other transplant recipients from around the world. We not only were able to share our passion for soccer but also our stories of transplantation and what obstacles we had to overcome to be where we were.”
Coming together to compete
Team USA played well in their matches but placed 9th out of the 11 teams. Because players came from all over the country to join the team, they hadn’t had the opportunity to practice together — or even meet in person — before the tournament started.
“The first time we met face to face and kick a ball as a team was our first game against France,” said Alex. “While that outcome was not what we wanted, we progressively got better as the tournament went on. Eventually ending with a win in a penalty shoot-out against Wales and a normal time win in our final game against Northern Ireland.”
“It was an incredible experience, and I would highly recommend anyone who’s involved with transplantation to reach out and get involved with not only Team USA but also with the Transplant Games of America (TGA), which is an Olympic-style competition for people who have received transplants or living donors,” he added.
Most states in the US have their own TGA team, including one here in Georgia.
World Transplant Games 2025
The next World Transplant Games will be held in Dresden, Germany on August 17-24, 2025.
Over six days, athletes and teams from 60 countries will meet to compete in 17 different sports. The US Team is excited to be part of it again and are currently looking for more players interested in taking part.
Leave a lasting legacy
Alex is also involved with the Peachtree Corners-based organization LifeLink® of Georgia, a division of the LifeLink® Foundation.
Established over 40 years ago, the foundation’s mission is to inspire new organ donor registrations and celebrate those who have decided to save lives as a registered organ, eye or tissue donor. The mission is carried out locally through education programs and community awareness campaigns.
Earlier this year, LifeLink of Georgia launched The Infinity Campaign, a state-wide educational effort aimed at motivating and registering new organ donors. The campaign is represented by the infinity symbol, to demonstrate the lasting impact of organ and tissue donation.
About LifeLink of Georgia
LifeLink of Georgia partners with hospitals to support and guide families as they establish their loved one’s legacy through organ and tissue donation.
They carry out the decisions of registered donors or their families and honor the life of each donor by providing organs and tissue for transplant to as many patients as possible.
In 2023, 457 men, women and children gifted a legacy of life through organ donation with LifeLink of Georgia, yet there are still nearly 3,000 patients in the state awaiting an organ transplant and thousands more that could benefit from tissue transplantation.
“When you become an organ donor, your life story continues through the lives you save, ensuring that your legacy lives on indefinitely,” says Katie Payne, executive director, LifeLink of Georgia. “Life is an invaluable treasure, a lesson we learn anew each day from our donor families. Thanks to their generosity, LifeLink of Georgia saves thousands of lives every year, and we are deeply honored to continue this extraordinary mission.”
The Infinity Campaign
The Infinity Campaign features a series of real stories from registered donors, each telling what inspired them to register and emphasizing the effect this decision has on saving lives. By sharing these stories, LifeLink aims to motivate more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and spread the message of hope and life.
“The decision to become a donor was deeply personal. It is an opportunity to give the ultimate gift — the gift of life,” said Adán Bean. “I get to continue to tell the story for others, be a little bit of ink in their pen and help them write what they want to write.”
As part of the launch, LifeLink has created the website mystorycontinues.com, which spotlights stories from donors and recipients and offers innovative tools, including the opportunity to upload a photo to share your support and spread the word on social media about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
Become a donor
Being a donor is an incredible way for individuals to make a difference and have an impact on the lives of others. One organ, eye and tissue donor can potentially save or improve the lives of more than 75 people.
The need for organ and tissue donors is greater now than ever, given the growing numbers of people on transplant wait lists and increasing numbers of people with diabetes and kidney disease.
Currently, there are about 3,000 people in Georgia on the organ transplant list and thousands more on the tissue transplant list.
There are several simple ways to register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor:
- Visit mystorycontinues.com and sign up today.
- Register when renewing or receiving a driver’s license or identification card at the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
- Register when obtaining a hunting or fishing license through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
For more about LifeLink of Georgia, visit lifelinkfoundation.org/our-story/#llgeorgia.
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded a check for $3,500 to Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries (NCM) at their November Business After Hours networking event.
NCM was chosen by PCBA’s Outreach Committee to be a recipient of the charitable donation because of their continued commitment to providing physical, financial and spiritual assistance to those in need within the community.
Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries
Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries provides food and clothing, rent and utility assistance, temporary hotel stays, counseling, church connections and more to at-risk Gwinnett County residents from Doraville, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Tucker and the greater Gwinnett area.
Through community partner referrals and various funding cycles, the organization’s mission is to “help those in crisis by collaborating with the community to offer programs and services that transform lives through the love of Christ.”
“Your $3,500 check will go towards feeding 180 people for three months,” shared Ryan Jones, executive director at Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries. “Our programs are designed to help our neighbors who sincerely want to break their cycle of poverty and regain financial independence. Making sure they have the basics is critical to their success.”
Giving back to support the community
“The PCBA is pleased to award a check for $3,500 to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries to contribute to their ongoing need of restocking their pantry and providing financial assistance as part of our community outreach,” said PCBA President, Lisa Proctor. “Our outreach committee and board are committed to supporting our community as our businesses continue to grow.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at their monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the community organizations and their programs.
Over the past 12 years, the PCBA has awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors and donated in excess of $165,500 back into the community.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
“Where businesses come to grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information visit peachtreecornersba.com.
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded a check for $500 to the United Way of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett County) at their Business After Hours networking event in November.
The local organization was chosen by PCBA’s Outreach Committee because of their commitment to providing assistance and bettering the lives of children within the community.
United Way of Greater Atlanta
The mission of United Way of Greater Atlanta is to engage and bring together people and resources to drive sustainable and equitable improvements in the well-being of children, families and individuals in local communities.
“Greater Atlanta is one of the most vibrant regions in the country, but the region has significant barriers to realizing its potential in the future because of its continued ranking at the bottom of the list of metro areas in income mobility,” stated Vanessa Roussell, United Way senior director of corporate relations.
“Children born in low-income households have only a 4% chance of getting out of poverty in their lifetime,” she continued. “We at United Way of Greater Atlanta don’t like those odds. Our work is about changing them so that children — regardless of where they’re born — have the chance to realize their potential and build lives that sustain themselves, their families and their communities.
Assessing needs within the county
The organization’s goal is to help every child unlock their full potential, by improving education, healthcare, resources and economic mobility in the communities where they live. Their “every child program” includes every child in Gwinnett.
Based on the 2023 census track for Gwinnett County, 94,308 people living in Gwinnett County are at risk, particularly in and around Sugar Hill/Buford, Duluth, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Lilburn and Snellville. The highest-need residents are located in the I-85 corridor, mainly around Duluth, Norcross and Lilburn.
Giving back to support the community
“The PCBA is proud to donate a check for $500 to United Way of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett County),” said PCBA President, Lisa Proctor. “Our outreach committee and board are committed to supporting our community, and investing in the well-being of the children in our community aligns with our core principles. We know that our dollars will be targeted to help those at highest risk … We are glad to have the local Gwinnett chapter located right in our community.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at their monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the community organizations and their programs.
Over the past 12 years, the PCBA has awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors and donated in excess of $165,500 back into the community.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
“Where businesses come to grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information visit peachtreecornersba.com.
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