Buy Grace's Lemonade at Farmington Memorial Day Parade to Help Sixth-Grader Fight Cancer

A Farmington sixth-grader hopes to raise $10,000 this year for cancer research through a Memorial Day lemonade stand she has been running since 2009.

West Woods Upper Elementary School student Grace Bergin, 12, raised about $13,000 the last few years through Grace's Lemonade Stand for Connecticut Children's Medical Center, where she is a patient. 

"I think her secret is being a very compassionate kid who wants to help others and change the world," Grace's mother, Jeanne wrote in an email to Patch. "She is pretty endearing and a very hard worker."

Grace took inspiration from the book, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand and wanted to help others in Connecticut. Her mother said that CCMC has been very supportive and that people often give her more than the price of a glass of lemonade to donate to the cause. 

"Just the other day a woman was remarking to Grace how amazing it is that she has taken some lemonade and turned it into thousands of dollars  to make a significant difference for Connecticut Children's," Jeanne Higgins Bergin said. "Grace also has some great friends that help her on Memorial Day as it is a big task. She has the stand in front of our house and mobile units (wagons) that they take up and down the streets."  

Last year alone, she raised about $9,332.  Grace started off raising the money with just the lemonade stand, but now she has a website too through CCMC where people can donate even if they can't make the parade. This year, Naples Pizza in Farmington and Fleet Feet in West Hartford also let her sell lemonade outside the stores to help get her closer to her fundraising goal. 

Grace gives free lemonade to members of the military, firefighters and police officers. 

"She recognizes the importance of Memorial Day and wants to honor those who serve our community and our country," Jeanne Higgins Bergin said. "She really is an extraordinary kid with a huge heart."

To read last year's Patch article about her efforts, please click on the link provided. 

You can find Grace at her lemonade stand at 80 Main Street in Farmington, right next to the fire house. Lemonade is $1 per cup and donations are welcome. Check donations can be made payable to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center or you can also donate online at graceslemonadestand.kintera.org.