Lakeland Lemonade Fundraiser Exceeds $1500

Holding a lemonade stand gave students at Lakeland Copper Beach Middle School a different meaning Friday.

The middle school hosted what’s known as “Alex’s Lemonade Stand,” a fundraiser to raise money and awareness about childhood cancer. The event had a special meaning for guidance counselor, Nadia Potter.

Potter’s sister-in-law was Alex’s aunt, a young girl who passed away from cancer but had the goal of holding lemonade stands to fundraise money to help doctors find a cure. The school had the goal of raising $500, but exceeded it and raised over $1500. 

Taylor Kammerman, a sixth grade student, said she was excited to help out at the stand for a few reasons.

“I wanted to honor Alex’s legacy,” she said. “And because I want to make a difference and I think this will do that.”

Students sold the lemonade for $1 during the lunch periods, and although a final count of the money raised wasn’t available Friday, they also sold lemonade between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. which raised $265.

Taylor Frawley, also in sixth grade, said the idea of selling lemonade identifies with her peers.

“A lot of kids really like lemonade and hold lemonade sales, so I think this can really help raise money and help other kids,” she said.

Potter said she received an overwhelming response from the students at the school who wanted to help out.

“They just love the story of Alex and what she did,” she said. “A lot of kids really just want a purpose—they want to help and they want to find something to do so they can make a difference. They see if a little girl can do all of this, then they can do it too.”

Potter said that another organization, the Friend of Rachel also helped them to put on the event, and it’s the second time they have hosted the event at the middle school. She added that although they held the event on Friday to coordinate with the National Lemonade Weekend for Alex’s Lemonade stand, next year they were hoping to incorporate the lessons students get from it year-round.

As the bell rang signaling students had to switch and go to their next period, students eagerly approached Potter, asking if they could stay the next period to help out.

“They’re just so excited to help out,” Potter said. “It just makes it all worth it.

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