Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

www.gazette.net
Angie Cochrun
8/30/10

A Sunday lemonade stand in Mount Airy did more than refresh passers-by. It also tackled childhood cancer, raising more than $500 in honor of Mount Airy resident, MacKenzie Stuck, 13, who has terminal brain cancer.

Residents Christopher and Becky Bond, along with their children Ryan, 12, and Cara, 8, and neighbor Payton Hull, 10, ran the fundraiser in MacKenzie's honor, although money went to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national nonprofit working toward a childhood cancer cure.

Christopher Bond said for some time his wife had been interested in doing a fundraiser like this, but it was Payton who got online and registering with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

"It went very well," Bond said. "We met our goal."

He said they met a number of people through the day as they went through about six gallons of lemonade. It wasn't just lemonade buyers who donated to the cause.

"Some people just donated without taking lemonade or snacks," he said. Employees of Jimmie Cone, where the stand was located, also donated all their tips, along with a donation from the owner of Jimmie Cone along with the use of his space.

Bond said the family learned of Mackenzie through her Caring Bridge website, and then met her later. "She's a brave little girl," he said. "We're all praying for a miracle."

Sue Stuck, MacKenzie's mom, said she appreciated the stand, and it was nice to see awareness increase about childhood cancer.

"It seems like more and more, there's more of it, and it's good to see that people's eyes are being opened and maybe someday there will be a cure," she said. "Anything that raises awareness and raises money for pediatric cancer research... I love it."

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation started with a front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott. In 2000, the then 4-year-old Alex announced she wanted to hold a lemonade stand fundraiser to raise money to find a cure for kids with cancer. Since then, the nonprofit has raised more than $30 million toward fulfilling her dream of finding a cure.

Mount Airy residents

excel at colleges

- Mount Airy resident Emily Jean Main graduated cum laude from Elon University in North Carolina on May 22. Main received a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise sport science. She was an honors fellow for four years at the college and was awarded a first prize in student research for her honors thesis, which she was asked to present at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine conference in Greensboro, N.C.

This fall, Main plans to attend George Washington University to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. Main is the daughter of Jim and Debbie Main of Mount Airy and a 2006 graduate of Linganore High School.

- Kameron Muranaka recently was named a member in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She will be honored during induction convocation this fall on the campus of Towson University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family studies. As a freshman last year she made the dean's list.

Muranaka, a 2009 South Carroll High School graduate, also is a member of the Towson University Student Council on Family relations, a student organization that focuses on issues relevant to families.

She is a 2009 graduate of South Carroll High School.

Local students

receive scholarships

Frostburg University has announced scholarship recipients for the 2010-11 school year. Recipients from the region include:

- Adam Eisenstad of Mount Airy, who received the Academic Excellence Scholarship from Frostburg State University. He is the son of Mark and Nancy Eisenstadt and a graduate of Linganore High School.

- Michael Schoelen of Mount Airy, who received the Academic Distinction Scholarship from Frostburg State University. He is the son of Patrick and Candice Schoelen and a graduate of Linganore High School.

- Samuel Shumaker of Mount Airy, who received the Academic Honor Scholarship from Frostburg State University. He is the son of Janice and Bill Shumaker and a graduate of Urbana High School.

- South Carroll High School graduates Stephanie Maring and Alexandra Weyforth recently were awarded scholarships from the Chester G. Elder Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Community Foundation of Carroll County.

Maring is a 2010 graduate of South Carroll High School and is a freshman at McDaniel College studying education. Weyforth, a 2009 South Carroll graduate, is in her second year at Stevenson University where she is pursuing a major in education.

The scholarship was established by friends, family and colleagues to honor the life and work in education of the late Chester G. Elder, who taught and was principal at Mount Airy High School from 1955 to 1966 and was principal at South Carroll High School from 1966 to 1990. The scholarship is available to South Carroll graduates and alumnus pursuing education.

Rotary reschedules youth tennis tournament

The Rotary Club of Mount Airy has changed the date of its youth tennis tournament.

The club will "raise a racket" by holding a Racket Championship for area youth on Oct. 16, at South Carroll High School.

The Rotary Youth Tennis Tournament is open to students in grades three through eight. The registration fee is $20. Each participant is encouraged to get individual sponsors and collect donations of $20 or more to benefit the Rotary Club's community projects.

Trophies and awards will be given to winners in specific age groups.

Area businesses are encouraged to sponsor one of these groups with a donation of $100 to the Rotary Club of Mount Airy.

For registration and information, visit www.MountAiryRotary.org, or contact Paul Mahata at 301-275-9730.

Farmers Market brings the fresh food downtown

The Mount Airy Main Street Association Farmers Market is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Farmers will have their freshly picked seasonal fruits and vegetables. For the month of August look for: onions, squash, beets, broccoli, kale, peaches, corn, cauliflower, white/red potatoes and tomatoes. There also are eggs, coffee, flowers and baked goods too, along with snow cones for sale.

The market runs through Sept. 29.

The market takes place every Wednesday in the municipal parking lot located at the intersection of Park Avenue and Veteran's Lane in Mount Airy. Check for weekly produce and events at mountairymainstreet.org, and click on Farmers Market or e-mail farmersmarket@mountairymainstreet.org.