Lemonade With Love: 'Selfless' Kids Raise Funds For Cancer Research

NORTH FORK, NY — Nothing conjures up the magic of a summer day more than a group of children standing by the roadside selling cups of just-squeezed lemonade.

On the North Fork Saturday, however, children in Mattituck were serving up much more than just refreshing lemonade — each cup was stirred up with pure love and giving: All proceeds from their sale will be donated to the Keri Lynn Stromski Stage IV Breast Cancer Research and Support Fund, under the auspices of the North Fork Breast Health Coalition.

Stromski, a beloved kindergarten teacher from Jamesport who died at 48 last year after a fierce battle with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, dedicated her life not just to her family and students — but also, to raising awareness about the need for life-saving research, sounding the rallying cry for "Stage IV needs more!"

And it was clear Saturday that her light and love live on in the hearts of the children who organized the sale, three of whom — Rachel, Julia, and Caroline Kubetz — are Stromski's nieces, whom she lovingly called her "sprites."

The sale honored not just Stromski, but all the loved ones of all the kids who participated. "They've probably all been touched in some way by cancer or loss in their lives," Jill Kubetz, Stromski's sister, said.

Waving signs that read "Yummy Lemonade, Donate Money For Cancer!" the children were enthusiastic about the lemonade sale, which took place on KnollWood Lane in Mattituck and raised about $150 for cancer research.

"They came up with this idea on their own," Kubetz said. And it's only the beginning of their mission to help others, she added. "They've got big plans."

The group of children, ranging in age from 6 to 12, organized this summer, calling them North Fork Kids For Kids, Kubetz said.

"This was the first of two fundraising events they want to do this year," Kubetz said. Next up, they want to have yard signs printed up that say, "Slow Down, Fast Kids"; the signs will sell for $10 with proceeds to benefit local children in need on the North Fork, Kubetz said.

Local businesses are sought to sell the signs in their shops.

The children, she said, are brainstorming about ways to help other kids in need, moving forward.

The idea for the lemonade stand was "totally impromptu," Kubetz said.

Kids participating included all three Kubetz girls, Madelyn and Samantha Mignone, Zoe and Max Schusteritsch, Lulu Uklanski, Vivian and Thomas Bellotti-Johnson, and Annalise Maul.

Speaking with Patch, the kids explained why they decided to donate the proceeds from their lemonade stand to cancer research.

"I wanted to do this because I knew this would be very important to my aunt," Madelyn, 12, said. "She passed away from cancer and I wanted to donate the money to help." Her sister Samantha echoed the same wish.

Added Zoe: "I wanted to donate the money because my grandpa passed away from cancer, and my great-grandma." Her brother Max agreed.

"My Aunt Keri died of breast cancer," Julia said; her sisters Rachel and Caroline also said they wanted to honor their aunt by donating the proceeds in her honor.

"She always said, 'Faith over fear," Julia added. Stromski created a blog, which she shared daily online, called "Faith Over Fear," sharing her journey and helping others with her honesty and focus on education, heart — and hope.

Kubetz said that her sister's mission had been to raise awareness about the critical need for Stage IV research.

Caroline, speaking with Patch, recited a poem she'd written for her Aunt Keri: "I love your walk, I love your talk, I love your sneezes . . .I love you to pieces," she said.

Rachel also credited Madelyn for the lemonade sale: "She came up with the whole thing," she said.

The children went through two sleeves of cups and dozens of cups of lemonade during the sale. Southold Police officers even stopped by to sample the lemonade.

"The kids were very generous and made sure the UPS and FedEx drivers got free glasses of lemonade," Kubetz said.

The children are already proceeding full steam ahead with plans for their sign project to stop speeding — they've already created a video that will be posted to promote the fundraiser, writing lines and filming the commercial.

Speaking with Patch, Kubetz explained how the kids have touched hearts with their mission.

"I was extremely overwhelmed when they came to tell me what they were doing," she said. "I thought they were just having a regular lemonade stand, and then Julia told me they were raising the funds for cancer research. I said, 'Well, how much are you giving?' And they said, 'All of it.'"

She added: "How often do you meet a group of kids who are just that selfless? It really is the way that we should all be. These kids are incredible — they're great."