A Pennsylvania girl spent her Saturday selling lemonade, and temporary tattoos to passersby. Though the combination of offers may seem a bit odd, it’s not an otherwise uncommon summer weekend scene. So what makes this situation more than just a way to earn some candy money? The stand’s owner, Moriah Rieth, is a nine-year old cancer survivor and she was pouring glasses to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Young Moriah is not alone in her lemonade stand venture. Ten years ago, Alexandra Scott, a child battling cancer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, decided to open a stand to raise money for research in childhood cancers. The idea grew wings and stands were propped up on sidewalks everywhere. What became the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised $30 million thus far for pediatric cancer research.
While lemonade is a given, why the temporary tattoos? When Moriah had lost her hair throughout her chemotherapy treatments she chose to cover her head with tats. Now, when patrons stop by for lemonade they can sport Alex’s Lemonade Stand in ink.
Though seemingly odd, the drink and ink combo had no problem turning a profit this weekend. Moriah reached her goal of $600 by 9:45 am, before many people have finished their coffee on a Saturday morning. Her efforts had reached people far and wide, and many supporters traveled in to buy some lemonade. ”We had two gentlemen come down from the Poconos because they heard the ad on the radio,” Moriah’s mother, Amanda Rieth told the Morning Call. “They each gave her a $20 bill for a cup of lemonade.”
The Rieth family feels a strong connection to the original lemonade stand proprietor, Alexandra “Alex” Scott (left). Moriah and Alex were both diagnosed with neuroblastoma and treated at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania. Sadly, Alex lost her battle to cancer at age eight, but she has left a legion of people to continue the fight for her through the foundation started in her honor. Hopefully through pediatric cancer research more children will end up like Moriah, who has been cancer free for nearly three years.
Photo by D Sharon Pruitt via Flickr, photo courtesy of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
