Lemonade Stand Started by 9-Year-Old Raises $1,780 for Cancer Charity -- and Counting

Downers Grove, IL — Last year, Evan Axelson raised $14 for a cancer charity by selling his stuffed animals at a garage sale, and this year he wanted to make $15 to donate by selling lemonade.

After several days sporting signs and smiles at the stand in front of his grandmother’s home in Riverside, Evan and his little brother, Sam, who live in Downers Grove, have far exceeded that initial goal.

They've raised $1,780 so far.

Evan’s grandfather died of cancer eight years ago, when Evan was just a year old. He’d seen his mom, Trish Axelson, attend the annual Goombay Bash to benefit the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Evan wanted to help.

“This was his idea,” Trish said. “He thought of it. He thought of selling the stuffed animals last year, and he wanted to beat his goal this year. I said, ‘How about when you sell lemonade, you keep half the money and donate half?’ But he said he didn’t want to keep half. I am beyond proud.”

When Evan met his $15 goal on the first day of the lemonade stand, he raised the goal to $50, then to $80 and then to $100. Trish said when she came home from work that day, her boys had made $300.

Evan's story spread, and WGN spent about two and a half hours filming the little business for a TV news story. People sought out the stand and gave much more to the cause than 50 cents per cup of lemonade. Someone even recognized Evan at a Downers Grove Youth Baseball game and gave him a donation.

Evan’s latest goal is $2,000, and he’s nearly reached it. Trish said friends, community members and people at Kingsley Elementary School, where Evan attends, keep asking when he’ll set up shop in Downers Grove.

“I see how many people have shared his story, and it’s blowing my mind,” Trish said. “I’ve been crying happy tears. He just wanted to raise $15.”

The Axelson boys' lemonade stand for cancer will open in Downers Grove on Thursday, June 30, at Evan's friend's house at 7010 Creekside Road.

Photos courtesy of Trish Axelson