UPDATE: Lemonade Stand Draws Strong Support for Batavia Girl in Hospital

As a crowd of people on Friday drank lemonade, wrote well wishes and gave money, they thought of one person: Sydney.

Nine-year-old Sydney Chidester of Batavia survived a cabin explosion on Sunday. Sydney's cousins and friends hosted a lemonade stand Friday near the  to raise money for her. Many residents, including strangers to the family, came to drop donations in a large water jug set up at the stand.

Sydney was injured in , a central Wisconsin town about 100 miles north of Madison. Friends of the family say Sydney lost both her grandparents, Dennis and Carolyn, due to the blast. Doctors continue to treat Sydney at a hospital in Madison.

Sydney’s cousin, Jaroleen Roesch, 10, and Jordan Burgwaldt wanted to set up a lemonade stand to help Sydney. They served many people over the course of the three-hour event.

Jaroleen was excited to see the big turnout. She wanted to tell Sydney three things on Friday.

“I love her, I miss her and I can’t wait for her to come home,” she said.

Lemonade, Cards for Sydney

Supporters were treated to a cup of lemonade and their choice of baked goods at the event.

Community members were invited to sign their name and well wishes to Sydney on a large poster board at the lemonade stand. Messages to her included “I hope you feel better,” “Get well soon” and “I miss you.”

Sydney’s fellow Louise White School classmates were also on hand to make cards for her. Many girls wrote cards and some boys from her grade also came to the event.

The lemonade sale also brought out Batavians like Rita Hoover, who heard about Sydney and wanted to show her support.

“I think it’s a great way for the kids to feel like they can have control,” she said.

Don and Dee Frieders of Batavia stopped by the stand as well. They had been neighbors of Dennis and Carolyn Chidester for nine years.

“They were the best neighbors you could get,” Dee Frieders said. She was also thrilled with Friday's turnout.

“This is awesome,” she said. “It’s just wonderful.”

Helping Hands

The was a huge help in pulling the lemonade stand together, said Michelle Burgwaldt, Jordan's mom. The VFW donated the use of their coolers and brought the lemonade and baked goods.

“We’ve had people coming (that) we don’t know and dropping off muffins,” Burgwaldt said.

Batavia resident Sylvia Jonsson decided to stop by and show her support after she heard about the event on Batavia Patch.

“The family needs help and they need to know people care,” she said.

At the end of the event, Sydney's aunt Emily said supporters and family members held hands along the water. Sydney's siblings, Drake and Carley, joined everyone in a prayer for their sister and threw quarters in the fountain.

A Smiling Sydney

Word of the lemonade stand traveled up to Sydney's parents, who have been with her in Madison all week.

"It was a great turnout from what I've heard," Nichole Chidester said. "I would have loved to see it."

Nichole's mother, Sydney's other grandmother, brought the cards that her classmates made on Friday to Madison. Nichole on Friday read every card to her daughter. Hearing her friends' names made Sydney ecstatic.

"Today, reading those cards to her, was the first time she has smiled since the accident," Nichole Chidester said. 

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For more information on how to help the Chidester family, click .