When Lisa Lewis’s friend told her about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Childhood Cancer Foundation five months ago, she’d never heard of it.

But once the opportunity to walk in support of a cure for cancer was presented, Lewis decided she wanted to walk 120 miles and raise $400 in support of her 12-year-old nephew.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand was started by Alex Scott in 2000, when she was 4 years old.

The girl was diagnosed with cancer and wanted to raise money to find a cure.

The mission — to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer treatment and cure research — was continued on by others.

Each year during the month of September, national childhood cancer awareness month, the foundation hosts Alex’s Million Mile – Run. Walk. Ride., encouraging people nationwide to help walk one million miles to raise awareness for childhood cancer.

Lewis decided also to participate in the Susan G. Komen three-day event in Seattle, which started her out with 60 miles. She decided to make a personal goal of reaching 120 miles in the month of September, she said.

She exceeded her goal by a few miles.

“Probably the best moment I had in September was when I crossed the finish line for the Susan G. Komen three-day event in Seattle,” Lewis said. “It meant I walked 60 miles for two incredibly worthy causes, and gelled in my mind that I really could walk 120 miles in one month.”

Lewis’s team, spread across the U.S., also had a goal to raise $400 to help fund a day of childhood cancer research. The team exceeded the goal by $5.

Though the team couldn’t physically walk together, they were still able to join together to support their cause, Lewis said.

Participants set their own goals and have the whole month of September to meet them.

Miles logged in workouts, recreational walks, runs or rides or even other events can be also counted toward the million miles.

“It’s a very easy event to participate in,” Lewis said.

The event is important to Lewis because her family has a history with cancer and since her nephew was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that often develops around the age kids enter puberty.

It is the most common type of bone cancer, and sixth most common cancer in children, according to kidshealth.org.

“It was important to me to fund a day of cancer research,” Lewis said.

She made personal donations both in general to the foundation, as well as specific donations toward osteosarcoma research, she said.

Though the work is national, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation isn’t as well-known as other cancer research foundations, Lewis said.

The foundation raises money for research, and also helps families by providing grants to pay for medical costs, travel and other expenses.

“I don’t think people realize how much families spend in just gas or parking,” Lewis said.

Participants in the million mile event walked a cumulative total of 891,214 miles during September. For more information on the foundation, visit www.alexslemonade.org.