Pouring Hope Forward

Lori Bruton
1 hour ago
3 min read

Bryce Bilson, is a celebrity in his own right. As the 2026 ambassador for Make Lemon Aide’s Laps of Love event, he will greet supporters, flash his signature smile, and sign autographs on race day. But Bryce’s story has not always looked this bright.

Born three months early and diagnosed with a severe brain bleed, he and his family spent years navigating uncertainty. He was diagnosed with moderate spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which was in all four of his limbs. His mom, Jessica Bilson, says, “That was a tough pill to swallow.” There is hardly any research on cerebral palsy (CP) and everyone with CP is affected differently.

"We believe that when life hands you lemons, you make lemon aide —TOGETHER."

That is one reason Make Lemon Aide Foundation for CP is so meaningful. The Buffalo-based nonprofit was created for families living with cerebral palsy who need access, support, and therapy to help their children and loved ones move forward in real ways. They need a community that sees them clearly and welcomes them without hesitation.

Make Lemon Aide was founded by Lauren Walier, who knows the CP journey firsthand. Born prematurely and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Lauren grew up understanding how isolating the condition can feel when few people around you truly understand it. Her family never let her disability define her, and that belief shaped a mission rooted in acceptance, inclusion, and hope.

Over time, Lauren went from a wheelchair to a walker, then to standing and walking on her own, and eventually fulfilled a dream she once could only imagine, performing a show dance called “The Swan” with Mayo Alanen, the former Dancing with the Stars pro, a moment that raised awareness and funds for Make Lemon Aide.

“The foundation has become more than support; it’s become community.”

That mission comes alive at First Step PT in Buffalo, where Make Lemon Aide helped bring cutting-edge therapy to Western NY, encouraging the clinic’s expansion from Georgia to Buffalo. First Step’s neuro-based model offers individualized, one-on-one care for people with neurological and orthopedic conditions, and for families living with CP, that can make all the difference.

Jessica says the impact on Bryce has been incredible. After receiving a grant to attend First Step PT, he began making gains that once seemed out of reach. He dribbled and caught a basketball for the first time. He took a few steps he had never taken before. He can write his name. For most people, those may sound like small victories, but for the Bilsons, they are milestones filled with joy.

Bryce’s confidence has grown. He knows he has something to contribute, and he knows people are cheering him on. Bryce loves drumming, has tried adaptive skiing at Holiday Valley, and dreams of skiing with his own feet one day. It is the kind of dream that sounds simple until you understand how much courage it takes to hold it.

Make Lemon Aide does more than fund therapy. It creates room for possibility. It brings families together who may have felt alone, and it gives children and adults with cerebral palsy a chance to be seen for who they are instead of for what they cannot do. Jessica says that before Make Lemon Aide, there were years when her family felt they were drowning. The foundation became more than support; it became community.

That sense of belonging is especially visible at Laps of Love, the foundation’s annual 5K walk, run, and roll event held on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Laps of Love is a celebration of dignity, access, and belonging, bringing together families, supporters, and advocates for a day to honor the CP community and remind them they are not forgotten.