Lemon-Aid Stands to End Duchenne

By Guest Blogger, Allison Greiner

Last Spring, my son Matthew got this note in the mail:

Dear Matthew, I had a lemonade stand. I made $24.26. I hope it helps. Love, Jack.

This note is one of the most special pieces of paper that has ever been placed in our mailbox and it not only tells a beautiful story, but has become an inspiration.

My four year old son Matthew (pictured above) has a muscle disorder called Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Children with this disorder lack the protein that allows muscles to regenerate and therefore over time, the muscles weaken, stripping boys of mobility, independence and a long adult life. It is a genetic disorder that affects one in 3,500 boys but, as in Matthew’s case, can occur as a spontaneous mutation. It is 100 percent fatal and for now, there is no cure.

Jack learned about Matthew and his struggle from his parents who had attended a fundraising event. Jack took it upon himself to set up a lemonade stand to raise money. Little did he know that this one act of kindness and generosity would turn into an entire campaign of kids helping kids in an effort to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Lemon-Aid Stand was born.

On the weekend of May 22-23, kids from all over Greensboro will be holding lemonade stands to raise money for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, a not-for-profit that is dedicated to funding research worldwide to end this tragic disorder.

Pictured right is Jack, who has already begun selling this year in his home-made stand, made by his grandfather. He's already raised over $100!

The process is rather simple. Kids can go online at www.lemon-aidstand.com to register their stands. On this site, they can create their own fundraising pages that they may send to family and friends. They will choose a location to pick up their own lemon-aid kit. Kits include Kool-Aid lemonade, a Lemon-Aid sign, information about Duchenne and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, balloons, Dear Neighbor letters, tips for sellers and a thank you note from Matthew and Jack. Once their stands are registered online, they will print out their registration to turn in when they pick up their kits. With this information we will be able to collect their earnings at the end of the weekend.


We invite you and your child to participate in this event by either registering and hosting your own lemon-aid stand, or by visiting these stands during the weekend of May 22-23rd. On the website, you will be able to find locations of the stands so you and your family can support others!

Although this event is taking place city-wide in Greensboro, if you are in another Triad city and want to host a stand, please contact me, Allison, at greinerr@mindspring.com or call 292-0644. We definitely want this to grow! In addition, if anyone would like to be an organizer for your area next year, please email me!

The beauty of this event is that children will feel the joy doing something significant to help others and hopefully, they will become a lifetime supporter of the cause. But, of course, we hope that they will be able to say that they helped cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy with a little Lemon-Aid and a lot of heart.

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM