Established in 2013, the Make Lemon Aide Foundation for Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation aimed at raising awareness for CP, fostering acceptance, inclusion, and kindness, creating a loving, supportive community, and providing cutting-edge, effective therapy.
Our history and mission.
Meet our founder, Lauren.
The Make Lemon Aide Foundation for CP was started by Lauren Walier. Born weighing just 14 oz., Lauren was diagnosed with CP at the age of one – but has never let that stop her from reaching her goals. Thanks to her dedication and treatment plan, she has progressed from needing a wheelchair to fulling one of her dreams of being a ballroom dancer.
Since she was a toddler, Lauren has been an inspiration to all, fighting through every obstacle in her way. As part of living with CP, she has been through more adversity in her youth than most people face their entire lives, including:
● Multiple surgeries, 26 alone in 2019
● Relearning learning how to walk eight times throughout her life
● Scrapes and cuts from falling as she struggled for independence from her walker and wheelchair
● Bracing and casts on both legs at the same time
● Countless hours of traditional therapy
● Hundreds of therapeutic Botox injections on her entire legs
● Intolerance and cruelty from bullies and others who do not accept Lauren for the inspirational person she is
● Fear of how CP will continue to affect her life in the future
When she was 12 years old, Lauren attended her first CP awareness meeting, only find out that there was no federal funding for CP research. Lauren then decided that she’d be the voice for those who didn't have one. Her goal is to help others who may be struggling with CP and inspire them through action.
Our mission
and goals.
Our mission: to make a difference for the 17 million people in the world with cerebral palsy. We focus on three key goals:
Increase awareness of CP
CP is known as the forgotten disability because few people truly understand what it is and how it affects CP patients, their families, their friends, and everyone around them. It’s our goal to make everyone aware of CP.
Improve access to cutting-edge treatments
Lauren has made amazing progress, in large part because of the First Step Recovery Model (FSRM) therapy program advanced by First Step Physical Therapy. By providing grants for CP patients and physical therapists, we want to make sure as many people as possible have access to this life-changing program.
Unite and celebrate the CP community
We support CP Warriors and their families. We won't stop until we bring together the CP community while making them feel special, not forgotten.