Hailey Parker would have loved it!
Hundreds of people got together for a great cause and had fun doing it. Awareness was raised about pediatric cancer, and more than $12,500 was raised for pediatric cancer research.
“To see all the kids dancing in the street, wearing their tutus and having such a great time, would have made her day,” said Hailey’s mom, Kim Parker.
Hailey Parker was an incredibly brave 11-year old who decided to help kids with cancer after receiving her own diagnosis of brain cancer in March of 2015. Hailey and her cousins set up a front yard lemonade stand and raised $527, which she turned over to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Tragically, Hailey passed away in October. But her legacy took root from that original backyard project and Ocean City opened its arms to help make the event a success.
“It was really an over pour of love,” Kim said. “The businesses, the city, and all the people who attended were beyond generous. Everyone we came into contact with simply wanted to do whatever they could to help us with the event.”
There was a DJ, frozen treats donated by Yoasis, a silent auction, face painting. A photo booth, Disney characters, a visit from the Ocean City Fire Department fire engine, face painting, and temporary tattoos. All proceeds went directly to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
“The $12,500 we raised represents the sponsorship of approximately a month and a half’s worth of research,” Kim said. “When you consider only three percent of research dollars go to pediatric cancer, what this event accomplished is really important. A lot of research can be accomplished in that amount of time.”
One of the stars of the show was the actual lemonade stand, custom built by R Snow Design/Build where attendees purchased lemonade for 50 cents a cup.
The lemonade stand incorporates part of the original stand Hailey had in the back yard for her first event,” Kim said. “It is the profile picture of our Facebook page (“Fight Like Haile”). It’s really pretty amazing.”
People may still take part in the effort, she added. To donate, people may go to the web pagehttps://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1220346; by texting “LEMONADE E1220346” to 85944 and the donation will be added to the benefactor’s phone bill; or by check made payable to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation” with Event ID E1220346 and mailed to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, 333 E. Lancaster Ave #144, Wynnewood, PA 19096.
For more information about the event or if there are questions, please call Dana Linthicum at 917-882-2901 or email dana.linthicum@gmail.com .
Kim Parker thanked Linthicum and Mary Beth Snow who were mainstays in organizing and executing the event. And of course, Ocean City.
“I have been coming down here my entire life,” said Kim, a resident of Newtown Square, PA, whose parents Chuck and Peggy Friel have a home in Ocean City.
“Saturday was a great example of why Ocean City is the best.”
