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Students Take A Stand

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 27, 2008

COUNTRYWAY - None of the children in Lowry Elementary's summer program could have met Alexandra Scott, a Pennsylvania girl who died in 2004 of cancer. But as they sipped icy lemonade they sold on her behalf, they wanted her to know that they were thinking of her.

They wrote messages to her to send to the sky in a white helium balloon.

"I miss you," 8-year-old Leilani Colon wrote. "If you were around, I would help you raise money for cancer."

"You're in a better place with God," Tyler Alonso, 10, said in his message. "We'll pray to help you best as we can to get a cure for cancer."

Matthew Wendt, 8, said he wrote that he felt bad Alexandra had died, and he was glad she had raised money for cancer.

Alexandra, known as Alex, was diagnosed before her first birthday with neuroblastoma. She had numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy. After a stem cell transplant when she was 4, she told her parents that she wanted to set up a lemonade stand to raise money for her doctors.

She hosted stands for four years before passing away at age 8. The news spread, and a foundation in her name was incorporated as a nonprofit organization on what would have been her ninth birthday. Nationally known with numerous corporate sponsors, Alex's Lemonade Stand has raised more than $19 million for pediatric cancer research.

A new business in Citrus Park helped inspire a local effort.

Tish Reisman opened her Rita's Water Ice franchise on Sheldon Road in March. Rita's is a corporate partner with Alex's Lemonade Stand and during June sells paper lemons for $1 to raise money for Alex's organization.

Sandra Layman, a teacher at Lowry, happened upon Rita's one afternoon when she was out with her children. She asked about the paper lemons she saw and fell in love with the story. She wanted to tell the students she volunteers with in a Lowry service club.

Reisman offered to supply everything from lemonade to souvenirs if the school hosted the stand. She hopes her business can sponsor one a month at various schools. Lowry is signed up for another stand this fall, and Hammond and Cannella elementaries also are planning stands.

Reisman said the cause clicked with her as soon as she started reading Alex's story.

"Once I started reading, you can't help but be passionate about it," Reisman said.

With Lowry's help, $740 was raised in two hours on a sweltering afternoon last week

"This is going to cool me down in a second," said 7-year-old Maya Couceiro, settling down with the lemon-flavored Italian ice.

Lemonade sellers can set a price for the drinks or allow people to donate what they wish. Cancer survivor Samantha Lee, 9, decided to ask for donations instead of charge a price per drink when she hosted a stand earlier this month in Lutz.

Sam, her brother, Matthew, and 10 friends sold lemonade at the clubhouse pool in her neighborhood and passed out cups to swimmers and sunbathers. They raised $212 in an afternoon.

Her mother, Joanne Lee, said she had told Sam how friends of theirs were hosting a stand in memory of a little boy she knew who died. Sam begged to raise money, too.

Within a few days, the family pulled together 10 friends and printed out information from Alex's Web site and got the lemonade ready. Sam, who had been on the receiving end of fundraisers when she was sick, loved the chance to give back.

"Anything to help other people - she's all about that," Lee said.

The Lowry students said they liked learning about Alex and helping her cause

"I was excited, but I was also sad for her," said Makayla Byrd, who will enter sixth-grade at Farnell in August. "I feel better that I can be a part of what she was trying to do."

As sales settled down, Lowry program instructor Steven Vaughn gathered the children to watch the balloon containing their messages take flight.

"I want you to think about something in your heart that you want Alex to hear," he said.

The children grew quiet and then blew kisses and yelled "We love you, Alex," as the balloon was released. It skipped down Country Hollow Drive, skirting trees but not getting snagged, before gradually drifting up, high above the school.

ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND

Alex's Lemonade Stand holds national "Lemonade Days" in June, but children can host stands at any time. Resources are available online at www.alexslemonade.org and include signs to download as well as brochures, fundraising letters and fact sheets. Register your stand online and submit donations to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation in Wynnewood, Pa. The foundation funds grants for cancer research.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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