By Maddy Vitale
Kim Parker wiped a tear as she spoke of her little girl Hailey who passed away at age 11 in 2015, after a battle with brain cancer.
But Parker’s tears were not out of sadness Sunday morning. They were out of joy, as children lined up at a lemonade stand in front of her lifelong friend Dana Linthicum’s Battersea Road home in Ocean City.
The families were there to pick a sweet treat, take some lemonade and donate money to “Dancing For Hailey,” an event in Hailey’s memory to promote awareness about childhood cancers and help with cancer research.
“I just love her being remembered,” Parker said. “It is just so nice that all of the kids and their families come out and show their support.”
Hailey loved to dance, which is how the group of volunteers came up with the name “Dancing For Hailey.”
It was a way to carry on what the brave girl started. After she was diagnosed with cancer, Hailey raised $527 with friends and cousins at front yard lemonade stand and gave the funds to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into new treatments and cures for all children battling cancer.
Watching families coming up to the lemonade stand on Battersea Road to donate in Hailey’s memory, touched Parker.
“The community is so overwhelmingly generous,” she said.
The Wilson sisters, Piper, 7, and Payton, 14, of Ocean City, strolled up to the stand and dropped money into the donation jar. They anxiously awaited two cups of icy-cold lemonade handed to them by Kai, 5, and Keira, 8, Linthicum.
“I think this is so great they are doing this,” mom, Jessica Wilson said of the “Dancing For Hailey,” event Sunday.
Then Nate Fetter, 5, and his dad Zach Fetter, both of Ocean City, stopped by.
“We come every year and get some lemonade,” Zach Fetter said. “We participated in Alex’s Lemonade years ago in Philadelphia. It is an important cause.”
In all, three stands were set up Sunday, the one at Linthicum’s home, another on Surf Road and one at Yoga Ginger, a business on Asbury Avenue. Donations from their efforts totaled $850, Linthicum said.
On Saturday lemonade stands were set up at Randazzo’s Family Restaurant, at Local Gym & Fitness, a business on Asbury Avenue, and along the bike path.
The total raised between the stands Saturday and Sunday was $2,000.
And that was just a preview of what is to come.
“This is all in preparation for the big event June 10,” Linthicum, chairwoman of the event, explained.
On Sunday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hailey’s friends and family will honor her memory and fulfill her wish with a dance party and lemonade stand on 8th Street between Ocean and Wesley avenues in front of The Dance Place, 618 East 8th St. in Ocean City.
There will be a dance party with a DJ, frozen treats from Yoasis, a silent auction of goods and services, face painting, pizza, snow cones, and other goodies donated by local businesses.
Linthicum said the “Dancing For Hailey” events have raised thousands and thousands of dollars.
In 2016, “Dancing For Hailey” raised $16,000. Last year the group received $20,000 in donations.
Linthicum said they are hoping that this year’s event – in its third year – will not only raise funds – but continue to promote awareness of childhood cancer, all in remembrance of Hailey.
“I think for us, we don’t put financial goals on it because we are just happy to bring awareness to the cause,” Linthicum said. “We are always blown away by the donations. Any contributions in Hailey’s memory is a success.”
She noted that Mary Beth Snow, owner of The Dance Place, has been a vital part of putting the event together.
“She was critical in visualizing the scope of the event and encouraging us all to do this,” Linthicum said.
Ashley Madden is one of 13 volunteers with “Dancing For Hailey,” who gives of her time to support such an important cause.
“We have an amazing group of women who work so selflessly to honor Hailey’s memory,” Madden said. “The most amazing thing is many of the women have never met Hailey, yet she impacted so many lives. I am proud to work with all of them to make such a wonderful event happen.”
For more information email DancingForHailey@gmail.com or visit www.alexslemonade.org.
