Second-graders fund cancer research with lemonade stand

SAUGUS – The second-graders at Oaklandvale Elementary School truly exemplify the saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” They raised close to $500 for childhood cancer by selling lemonade to their teachers and fellow students the last week of October.Oaklandvale?s second-graders recently read Stuart J. Murphy?s book “Lemonade for Sale,” which tells the tale of four children who use teamwork, math skills and lemonade to raise funds to fix up their clubhouse. Inspired by the story, the three classes decided to join together to run a lemonade stand of their own, Alex?s Lemonade Stand.The students served up cups of lemonade along with hope at their special stand. All of the proceeds were donated to Alex?s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit organization based out of Wynnewood, Pa., aimed at fighting childhood cancer.In 2000, 4-year-old cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott from Manchester, Conn. told her parents she wanted to set up a front yard lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for cancer. On the first day alone, Alex and her older brother Patrick raised $2,000 for their cause.News of Alex?s Lemonade Stand quickly spread and children across the country soon joined Alex?s mission. When Alex passed away in 2004 at the age of 8, her stands had raised more than $1 million for childhood cancer research. Alex?s parents started Alex?s Lemonade Stand Foundation a year later to carry on her legacy and they?ve raised more than $45 million since then.Each day for a week the Oaklandvale second-graders sacrificed their recess to sell lemonade in the cafeteria for $1 a cup. With supplies donated by Stop & Shop in Saugus, the children sold 403 cups of lemonade and collected $471 for the foundation.This marked the third year Oaklandvale second-graders hosted a lemonade stand to support the foundation, said second grade teacher Teddi Zeboski. She said the simple, yet powerful message that everyone is capable of making a difference in the world resonates with the students.?The lesson that comes with it is that you can help someone, even at 7 years old,” she said. “We saw pictures of Alex and learned her story, so they knew what they were doing and why.”By keeping detailed bar graphs of the amount of lemonade sold, the students also learned valuable math skills related to running a business, Zeboski said.?Of course, it always starts with the learning,” she said.Their efforts seem to be paying off. Last year the second-graders received a certificate of appreciation from Alex?s parents after sending in the money raised along with pictures of their stand.?It was really nice, but we always tell the kids that we don?t expect to be recognized,” Zeboski said.Jessica Trufant can be reached at [email protected].