Michele Fleming formed Nathan’s Cancer Slayers in 2020 to honor Nathan’s incredible spirit and his lasting legacy of kindness, courage, and positivity — and to keep his presence alive in the world.
Nathan continues to inspire me every single day to help other kids in his honor.
This work is deeply healing and fills my life with profound purpose and meaning.
At Nathan’s Cancer Slayers, a local fundraising team under Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, we are on a mission to change the future for children with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and all childhood cancers.
RMS is an aggressive cancer that robbed my son Nathan of his ability to walk, see, hear, and chew. In 2020, I formed Nathan’s team to help other kids in Nathan’s honor. Since then, we’ve raised more than $580,000, previously funding Georgetown Lombardi’s research into targeted drug treatments.
This year, we’re supporting groundbreaking new research led by:
🧬 Dr. Valter Longo (University of Southern California)
🧬 Dr. JinSeok Park (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)
Their goal is to develop a low-toxicity, combination treatment strategy that we believe could be a game-changer for children and families facing cancer.
The medical field has long focused on identifying “magic bullets”—highly specific treatments that target cancer cells without affecting healthy ones. However, this approach is notoriously difficult.
Instead, Drs. Longo and Park are leveraging basic biological differences between normal and cancer cells to develop highly effective, low-toxicity therapies that are available now. These treatments exploit cancer’s hidden weaknesses and make it harder for cancer to adapt or develop resistance.
This study will test an innovative, multi-hit strategy backed by decades of research:
Using cutting-edge genetic tools, the research team will also identify how cancer cells “escape” treatment — and then apply low-toxicity drugs to block those escape routes and prevent resistance.
This approach isn’t just theoretical for us — we’ve personally experienced its potential.
When Nathan was in hospice, he received HDIVC and doxycycline for two weeks. His energy soared, and MRI scans showed the cancer had stopped advancing during that period. Sadly, the cancer had already metastasized to his spinal fluid, and a different alternative treatment failed. But we saw firsthand the promise of this gentle approach.
Our beloved Labrador, Parker, benefited from fasting. Diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma in 2022 and given just months to live, he survived over 3 years — more than 5x longer than average — and maintained excellent quality of life. The only thing we did differently than other pet owners was to add daily time-restricted fasting to his treatment plan.
Extensive lab and clinical research — including in triple-negative breast, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers — shows that this combination therapy:
✅ Weakens cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to chemotherapy and other standard treatments
✅ Reduces treatment resistance
✅ Strengthens normal cells and protects them from toxic side effects
✅ Stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells
✅ Slows tumor growth
✅ Reduces harsh side effects, including fatigue, nausea, and organ damage
🎥 WATCH this powerful 7-minute video from Dr. Longo — it could change the way you think about cancer treatment.
Dr. Longo, author of The Longevity Diet and Fasting Cancer, explains the science and the results that inspired us to act:
👉 You can also watch the FULL REPLAY of Dr. Longo’s talk in Vienna, VA on 8/31.
👉 Dr. Valter Longo: Low-Toxicity Combo Approach To Treat Childhood Cancers | Nathan’s Cancer Slayers
Thanks to the generosity of Volvo Cars, every dollar donated from September 10–14 will be matched 100% — doubling your impact instantly! 💪
🗓️ Donate NOW:
👉 Donate to Nathan’s Cancer Slayers 2025 | Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Our ultimate goal is to launch a clinical trial within 3 years — and revolutionize how we treat childhood cancer.
But we need your help.
Only 4% of the National Cancer Institute budget goes to childhood cancer research, and because childhood cancers are rare compared with most adult cancers, there are few financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in safer treatments.
That’s why philanthropic support is critical.
Let’s fund science. Let’s fund hope.
Let’s create a world where no child has to suffer through cancer the way Nathan did.
We are beyond grateful for the outpouring of support from local businesses that has made our team’s success possible.
Special thanks to:
This year, co-owner Karen Waltman continues Pie-Tanza’s incredible support for the 6th year in a row, donating 10% of all Wednesday sales in September, including for Nathan’s 24th birthday — Sept 20. Karen also donates their famous brownies to all our Lemonade Stands. 💛
We’re also incredibly grateful to:
…for graciously hosting our summer Lemonade Stands! 🍋🎗️
Your support proves that community + compassion = change.
