Sisters Return With Lemonade Stand to Fund Childhood Cancer Research
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
For anyone visiting the Chappaqua Farmers Market this Saturday, if you get thirsty, look for the Blum Sisters Lemonade Stand.
Not only is it likely that your thirst will be quenched but your donation for the serving of lemonade will be used to fund childhood cancer research.
For the ninth consecutive year, Jenna and Rebecca Blum, now 14 and 17 years old, respectively, will be at the market on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
They will be getting up early Saturday morning, perhaps before the sun rises, to make 10 gallons of freshly squeezed lemonade for their annual fundraising effort.
“It’s very special to be able to be doing this for the majority of our lives, and it’s just a really great cause and a really great thing to do,” Jenna Blum said.
The sisters have teamed up to raise about $18,600, always matching or eclipsing their goal of raising at least $2,000 each time. That goal has already been exceeded for this year, she said.
As of midday last Friday, the sisters had raised $2,279 from online donations – all without selling a single cup of lemonade yet.
There will also be a guessing jar and they will have hand-made pillow cases to sell this year as well.
When Jenna and Rebecca started raising money for the charity, they had the help and encouragement of their mother and their Grandpa Neal, who they described as someone who was always positive and smiling.
Six years ago, their grandfather died of brain cancer, so the event in some ways is bittersweet. However, that also provides inspiration for them to continue working to raise money in hopes of helping children with cancer.
Rebecca Blum said their grandfather was the type of person who if life deals you lemons, then it was time to make lemonade.
“He was always so proud of us and very supportive,” she said. “So I know if he was still here he’d be feeling the same way.”
“It’s a really nice way for us to remember him in total,” Jenna added.
For Rebecca, this year’s lemonade stand will mark the end of an era of sorts. In a few weeks she graduates from Horace Greeley High School and will be heading to college next year.
Rebecca hopes that she can return home and continue raising money for a very important cause that she and her sister have been doing for most of their lives.
“I really hope that we will be able to have our stand each year when I’m home for summer break because it’s been such a fulfilling experience,” Rebecca said. “I want to keep continuing it.”
For more information on the Blum Sisters Lemonade Stand or to make an online contribution, visit https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/2837178.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
