BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Bay Minette Elementary School faculty and students will be working hard this month to help e-Lemon-ate childhood cancers. In observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the school will set up a special lemonade stand on Fridays to raise money for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

The Foundation’s mission is to raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily for research into new treatments and cures, and to encourage and empower others – especially children – to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.

The e-Lemon-ate Cancer Stand will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and manned by volunteers with Carlin’s Courage Foundation and The Proverbs 3:5 Foundation, two local organizations that work to raise awareness about childhood cancers.

The fight is personal for this campus of educators and learners. Two current students – Starla Chapman and Xavier Lee – are cancer survivors. First grader Starla was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 20011. Third grader Xavier was diagnosed with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, Stage 4, just two years ago. Both students are now in remission and thriving at Bay Minette Elementary.

“It’s personal because they are our babies – all of them,” said BMES faculty member Shana Harville. “Parents entrust them to us and we love them like our own. It’s heartbreaking to see them hurt and even more so to lose one. It rips your heart out.”

Harville said that excitement is building for teachers and students as they gear up for the first lemonade stand this week. “The kids are excited about it because they have seen what Starla and Xavier have been through. They are eager to help.”

The lemonade stand is also dedicated to the memory of two children with strong community connections to the school: Carlin Davis and Jensen Byrd. Carlin passed away in 2013 with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and Jensen died in 2010 after losing his battle against Neuroblastoma. Their parents attended the school and both still have many family members in the area.

The idea to hold a local fundraiser was the idea of Starla’s mom DeAndra Chapman. She got the ball rolling last week and said she was “overwhelmed” with the response. “I reached out to faculty member Shana Harville about BMES doing something in honor and memory of children in our community who have battled cancer and by the weekend I was overwhelmed,” Chapman said.

In no time, teachers and parents have signed up to provide lemonade, cookies and decorations. The school’s art teacher Jessica Merchant and husband Brad built a custom e-Lemon-ate Cancer stand just for the occasion. “It’s completely amazing to see how much they love their students beyond the classroom,” Chapman said.

The lemonade stand will be open on Fridays throughout September and individuals can support the cause by stopping by for a cool drink or donating on-line. “We encourage everyone to come out and support the lemonade stand by bringing a donation of any amount to be given directly to Alex’s Lemonade Stand,” Chapman said.

BMES has also established an on-line site for donations and hope to raise $2,000 by the end of September. To make a donation, visit: alexslemonade.org/mypage/1177033. For more information about this event, call the school office at 251-937-7651.