After Mom Diagnosed With Cancer, Hamden Girl Hosts Lemonade Stand Sunday to Benefit Smilow

Editor's note: The lemonade stand will be open for business Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 932 Dunbar Hill Rd. 

To the Editor:

My name is Hannah Rose. My mom has breast cancer, and I was really scared at first when I didn't know much about the treatment and I wasn't sure what would happen. My Great-Aunt died from breast cancer when I was 8, and I was very sad. 

I told my parents that I was nervous, and they told me lots of things, some bad, like my mom was going to lose her hair. There were good things too, like the kind of cancer was easier to be treated than we thought. I started to learn more about the treatment, and I wasn't as nervous. We even got a tour of the hospital! I saw the place that my mom would be getting chemotherapy, and I thought it was cool. There was even an artist who came and painted pictures for the patients. I knew my mom would be getting good care. My mom is really nice and funny, and I would hate it if something happened to her.

Then an idea started to form. I had wanted to do a lemonade stand to raise money for an animal shelter, and after she got cancer, I decided I could do a lemonade stand to raise money for her hospital. My parents said it was a good idea.

As a way to help her hospital (Smilow Cancer Hospital), I decided to hold the lemonade stand at my house. I have notified lots of people, including the news. We will have Closer to Free printed brochures and there will be signs pointing to the stand at the end of our street. Smilow Cancer Hospital and Closer to Free are helping my family and me with the stand, and I am grateful that they are. One of my mom’s nurses said she would come, and the hospital is telling people all about our stand.

People who come can donate any amount to the stand, and it will ALL go to Smilow. The lemonade will be free. I am hoping to raise at least $50 and my goal is 30 people. I am excited and hopeful!

Thank you, 

Hannah Rose Theriault