HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Tuesday did not boast typical lemonade-drinking weather, but that did not stop students at Ridgecrest Elementary School from selling the summertime treat in an effort to help fight childhood cancer.
Alex Scott, the founder of Alex's Lemonade Stand, died of neuroblastoma at the age of 8. She started her fundraising efforts at age 4. (Wikimedia Commons)
The students were inspired by the story of Alexandra "Alex" Scott, the Pennsylvania girl who, in 2000, started Alex's Lemonade Stand to raise money for fight cancer in children. Gifted teacher Detra Coleman's fifth-grade students came up with the plan after reading about Scott in their SPACE (Special Program for Academic and Creative Excellence) studies.
"We're trying to bring back Alex's dream by helping children with cancer," said Harry Bucio, 10. "This is all for Alex."
Scott, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before her first birthday, told her parents she wanted to give the money raised through her lemonade stand to doctors to allow them to "help other kids, like they helped me," according to her website. By the time 8-year-old Alex died in 2004, her efforts had raised more than $1 million. Her parents have continued her legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Coleman said her students wrote letters to area businesses, asking for their help in funding the project. Some gave monetary donations; Costco donated more than 20 large containers of lemonade mix.
Her students also spoke at a special assembly at the school last week and advertised the event around the campus, encouraging all students to wear lemony yellow clothes on Tuesday.
The students were thrilled to be able to help a good cause.
"Saving kids' lives from cancer is an important thing," said fifth-grader Josylen Wheeler. "My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, so it would mean a lot to me."
The older classes took turns manning the stand and serving their younger schoolmates. Lemonade and two vanilla sandwich cookies were worth a donation of 50 cents, but students could donate more if they chose to.
Dozens of little hands stuffed dollar bills and quarters into the donation boxes. Coleman told AL.com later that the children raised $335 to donate to Alex's cause.
"The lemonade stand was an absolute success and the children really enjoyed it," Coleman said.
Third-grader Gage Case livened the work up as he put on latex gloves to hand out cookies.
"Hey, look, it's like at Kroger," Case said, launching into a story about sampling cookies and Boar's Head cheese in the grocery chain's deli and bakery.
Case and his classmates were vigilant about ensuring each donating student got his or her lemonade and cookies. At one point, Case, 8, gave a younger student a thumbs-up.
"Hope you enjoy them," he told the boy.
All of the proceeds from Tuesday's lemonade and cookie sale will go to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The foundation has, to date, raised more than $80 million and funded more than 450 research projects aimed at ending childhood cancer.
To learn more about Scott and her legacy, or to make a donation, visit alexslemonade.org. Scroll down for a video about the organization and its tiny founder.
Updated at 12:18 a.m. on Wednesday with the amount the children raised.