This weekend, rain or shine, 3-year-old Nolan Howard will bring the fight against cancer to his parents' Cuba Street driveway.
Raising money and awareness one cup at a time, Nolan and his mother Ivy Krull are registered participants in Lemonade Days.
It's a nationwide event that will have them manning a lemonade stand from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, outside their 3 Cuba St. home.
Founded by the nonprofit Alex's Lemonade Stand | named after a 4-year-old Pennsylvania girl who died from the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma | Lemonade Days is an opportunity for residents to head outdoors and drink a summer favorite, while raising funds for cancer research.
"He's so excited," said Krull of Nolan, who will turn 4 in July. "He puts on his Lemonade Days T-shirt and his bandanna and goes around the house pretending to serve lemonade to everyone. He's practicing."
Krull and Nolan are registered as the only Lemonade Days stand in the Merrimack Valley, and one of just 14 in the state.
Their efforts this weekend will be made in the memory of family friend Cian Crowley, who passed away at just 7 months, after a two-month battle with neuroblastoma.
"I think that everything we do to remember Cian is important," said Krull, who used to work with Cian's mother, Jenn Crowley, of Quincy. "Even if it raises awareness for three people that stop by our lemonade stand, I think that makes an enormous difference."
Krull said that while the need for early cancer detection in adults is well understood, that isn't always the case when it comes to parents and their young children. Pediatric cancer isn't even thought of as a possibility by many parents, she said.
"If we can raise awareness we can help kids get diagnosed earlier," said Krull. "This is a really important way that people can help raise awareness and raise money."
After their infant son developed what appeared to be a black eye that the Crowleys thought was the sign of an ear infection, it took just one visit to the doctor before Cian was diagnosed, according to Krull.
"We went to visit Cian shortly after he was born," she said. "(Nolan) held Cian on his lap and it was a big deal for him.
"Trying to explain that Cian died was really hard," Krull said. "He's all right because he thinks he can make it better. He still feels that it's something he can fix."
Those who stop by for a glass of lemonade this weekend are asked to make a donation to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Potato chips will also be provided.
Krull said that many fundraising efforts for cancer don't go specifically for pediatric research.
"This is 100 percent. Alex's Lemonade Stand funds research specifically for pediatric cancer," she said.
Cian's father, John Crowley, planned to help Nolan build the lemonade stand before the weekend, according to Krull. Cian was the Crowley's first child, and died on Oct. 13, 2006.
"It's going to be a traditional lemonade stand, an old-fashioned one," said Krull. "Nolan's really excited to paint it."
Krull said having a tragedy happen to family friends has changed the way she looks at everyday life. She also cited a North Andover family who recently lost a child to neuroblastoma as another reminder to feel thankful.
"It really makes you look at life and think of the things you have that are amazing," said Krull. "It's hard to think you can do anything that can help. I really feel that this is something that can."
News
Fighting cancer, a cup at a time
- News
-
-
Seniors eye less expensive, simple answers for Andover High prom
Andover High seniors Matt McIver, left, and Liam Centrella are dressing casually for their prom.
Three prom-going teen girls in their senior year at Andover High School are talking about their bargain shoes, not costly gowns, hair appointments and make-up.
Continued ...
With eyes toward college expenses, adopting a more laid back approach to the prom is becoming the norm for seniors - but not necessarily juniors - attending the junior and senior prom at the school. -
Pink slip warnings for 66 teachers
More than 10 percent of Andover teachers have been given pink slips in the past week, as the town prepares for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Continued ...
A total of 66 pink slips, warning of possible future layoffs, went out to all of the school district's non-professional status teachers in preparation for an unknown number of layoffs at the end of the fiscal year. Non-professional status teachers are teachers with less than three years of full-time teaching experience in Andover. -
ClownTown coasts into Park this weekend
What could be better than a carnival, complete with rides, games and festival food, setting up shop at the Park on Bartlet Street for two days and nights?
Continued ...
Well, all of the money raised by it benefiting area children and schools, of course! - Board: Five-story housing project too tall
- Water storage feature part of 40B plan
- Town ambulance rate jumps to $1074.12
- Probation hearing for sex offender
- Town Talk
- Dive into Krit Classic June 3
- Andover's last smokestack is drifting into history
- Construction begins on disabled soldier's home
- AYS Gold Rush fundraiser this weekend
- Scouts offer open house Saturday at camp site
- Andover Stories Continues: Amos Blanchard story, part I - building a trophy house
- Teachers contract: State law outlines process
- Andover firm recognized as a 'Best Place to Work'
- Cell phone store plans a 'family fun' grand opening hosts face painting, fun day
- Thursday, May 10, 2012
- Outsourcing of cemetery work fought
- Watch out, superficial culture. These girls plan to kick your butt
- No income cap on senior tax work-off program
-
