A cheery lemonade stand greeted shoppers at Publix last Monday night. Two little girls from the Knowles and Stadler families were raising money to benefit the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national organization that encourages children to get involved by raising funds and fostering a greater awareness of childhood cancer.
Doing just that at their bright lemon-bedecked table were 3-year old Alice Knowles and 6-year old Riley Stadler, and their mothers, Jerrica Knowles, a physical therapist at Quail Valley River Club, and Megan Stadler, administrative assistant at A Closet Enterprise. The smiling foursome did a brisk business selling lemonade and lemon cookies to pre-dinner shoppers at the 12th Street and U.S. 1 location.
The foundation was established in 2000 by then 4-year old Alexandra (Alex) Scott, who raised more than $1 million to help other children battling the disease, before succumbing to neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, four years later. More than $100 million has been raised since its founding.
“We were reading a story about a boy who was sick and the kids wanted to know why he got sick,” said Jerrica Knowles. “They wanted to send him a birthday card and even though they weren’t sick, they wanted to do something to help other kids.”
Hoping to foster that mindset of service to others, the mothers researched various projects and found ALSF. They partnered with Bitsy Brain Food, which donated boxed lemon cookies and gave the girls T-shirts which read, “Giving a bitsy back, fighting childhood cancer one cup at a time.”
They also solicited Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company, which donated bottles of lemonade, and Glenda Phillips of One Clever Cookie in Sebastian, which contributed beautifully decorated homemade cookies.
“They asked me and how can you say no to those sweet faces,” said Phillips pointing to the two little blond-haired girls. “These little kids are out in the hot sun trying to sell lemonade to help such a great cause, so I hope they sell everything and that people will also just donate.”
Many did stop to drop a few dollars in the donation jar without purchasing anything, having heard previously of Alex’s cause. Alex’s inspiring campaign has led thousands of other children to man lemonade stands to bring awareness to childhood cancer and raise funds for treatment, medical expenses and research.
“A big thing that prompted me to do this is that I wanted Riley to experience working hard at something that was selfless,” said Stadler. “They have both been real troopers and we are very proud of them.”
In just three hours the girls raised more than $900, which has encouraged them to do even more. Knowles hopes that other sponsors will step up to donate at subsequent events, or that they might be inspired to encourage other children to undertake something similar.