Girl's Lemonade Stand Raises Hundreds For Uncle Battling Cancer

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A 6-year-old Crystal Lake girl raised an impressive $541 for her uncle battling testicular cancer through sales at her lemonade stand last weekend. Cheyanne Alexander will have her lemonade stand back up and running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 953 Nottingham Lane in Crystal Lake, her mother told Patch.

Cheyanne's parents, Marshall and Briana Alexander, were shocked by the turnout the lemonade stand received this past Sunday. The money has already been sent to Briana's sister, Mistie, 30, and her husband, Paul, 33, to help their family while Paul is out of work following his first round of chemotherapy.

• Follow Crystal Lake-Cary Patch on Facebook

Briana Alexander advertised by posting information on neighborhood Facebook pages, but didn't expect the turnout her daughter received.

"We honestly had no idea that so many people would show up," Alexander said. "We kind of figured, for a lemonade stand, we would maybe make $20."

But then people started giving Cheyanne $20 and $50 bills, and her proceeds started adding up quickly. Some would take the lemonade — to keep it safe due to the coronavirus they had Crystal Lite lemonade packets and water bottles for people to grab — but many just made a donation.

"Honestly, I probably cried all day," Alexander said, adding that her family was overwhelmed by the support.

Cheyanne got the idea for the lemonade stand after she successfully sold one of her bracelets curbside to a passerby. The bracelet was made up of strips of paper, glued together. After that, she asked her parents if she could have a lemonade stand and give the money to her uncle.

"She knows he's sick — we don't use the 'C' word because that's a lot for a child," Alexander said.

Paul and Mistie, who live in Texas, have a 9-year-old girl and are currently relying solely on Mistie's income, but the money will undoubtedly help her sister's family, she added.

"He's done one round of chemo and his doctors are very hopeful he will be better after four rounds," she said. "He could be out of work for a while."

This weekend's lemonade stand will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 953 Nottingham Lane in Crystal Lake. Cheyanne will again be selling lemonade, pink lemonade, root beer, popsicles and baked goods. In addition, necklaces and earrings, which were donated to the family, will be sold. All proceeds from those items will go toward her uncle.
Cheyanne will also be selling her paper bracelets for $1.

For those who will not be able to stop out but would like to help you can donate online.