An Oak Park family will hold a lemonade stand June 2 to benefit a childhood cancer nonprofit.
For the third year in a row, the Valentine family will raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. The national nonprofit, founded by Alex Scott, raises money for research and cures for pediatric cancer. Scott died in 2004 at age 8.
The family will serve up lemonade from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 2 in front of their home at 1006 N. Grove Ave. in Oak Park. Luke Valentine, 11, said he’s excited to wear his lemon costume to draw attention to the stand.
“I think it’s important because Alex passed away while doing it, so I think we should be able to continue that,” said Luke Valentine, who will run the stand with his sister, Molly, 13.
The family’s mother, Seana Valentine, said they are originally from Wynnewood, Pa., where Scott lived; she said she knew Scott personally and called her a “firecracker” who was perpetually positive.
“My kids wanted to teach more kids about Alex’s story,” Seana Valentine said.
The stand — one of about 2,000 taking place across the country during ALSF’s Lemonade Days — honors friends of the family Claire Brogan and Max Talerigo, who are childhood cancer survivors.
“They’re survivors, and we feel like we should support them,” Seana Valentine said.
The family doesn’t have a specific fundraising goal, Luke Valentine said. Last year they raised $200, and the year before, $500.
“We just want to raise as much as possible,” Luke Valentine said.
Annie Korp, communications and public relations specialist for ALSF, said the foundation is grateful to supporters like the Valentines, who spread awareness and raise funds. Local lemonade stands continue to help the foundation raise more than $150 million to date, she said.
“Local lemonade stands are important to ALSF because that’s how the foundation transitioned from the vision of a young girl to the national movement it is today,” Korp said in an email.
For more information, visit www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1441935.