MOUNT GREENWOOD — Children with a lemonade stand often imagine the ways to spend the profits before the first glass is even poured.
In that regard, Lemonade for Emily is no different. Only instead of spending the proceeds on penny candy or toys, Girl Scout Troop 20055 plans to donate the money to Emily's Entourage, a charity supporting the family of Emily Beazley, 11, of Mount Greenwood.
Beazley, a student at Mount Greenwood Elementary School, is in the fight of her life. She's currently undergoing intense chemotherapy after a relapse on March 24.
The Girl Scouts from Queen of Martyrs School in suburban Evergreen Park will be selling lemonade, baked goods and T-shirts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday in the school parking lot at 3550 West 103rd St.
Glasses of lemonade will cost $3 for one or $5 for two. The profits will be used to help the Beazley family pay for groceries, gas cards and other expenses that occur during this trying time.
"The girls had this idea to try a lemonade stand," said Jessica Sullivan, leader of the troop of second-graders from both Queen of Martyrs and Mount Greenwood School.
Beazley was diagnosed with Stage III T-Cell Lymphoblastic Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on April 7, 2011. She fought this most aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for 2½ years.
Her relapse came just as life was returning to normal. Beazley will remain on chemotherapy until her cancer goes into remission. Then she will need to undergo a stem cell transplant at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in Streeterville.
Beazley is not a Girl Scout. But Sullivan's daughter, Grace, is friends with Emily's sister Olivia Beazley — a second-grader at Mount Greenwood School. Another of the Troop 20055 Scouts, Mia Garcia, also knows Emily Beazley, as both of the girls' fathers work together.
Troup 20055 "all know who Emily is," Sullivan said.
To help with the lemonade stand, the troop of seven second-grade students has called in reinforcements. Girl Scouts from throughout the service area will be on hand to make and serve lemonade.
In all, some 50 girls from kindergarten through eighth grade will be participating. The event will also draw Girl Scouts from nearby schools including St. Christina Catholic School and George F. Cassell Fine Arts School, Sullivan said.
The girls initially set a goal of selling 300 cups of lemonade and a corresponding number of baked goods. With word quickly spreading about the event, troop leaders now believe they can double their target.
"Our troop is younger. We are trying to teach them how important it is to help people," Sullivan said.
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