A special cup of lemonade
For the last couple of years, Pat and Phil Haabala of Alexandria have turned a little playhouse on their yard into a lemonade stand to raise money for a good cause.By: Al Edenloff, Alexandria Echo Press
- Lemonade stand
For the last couple of years, Pat and Phil Haabala of Alexandria have turned a little playhouse on their yard into a lemonade stand to raise money for a good cause.
They called it “Grandma Pat’s Lemonade Stand Day.”
Kids – including those from the Haabalas’ daughter’s daycare – had a fun time running the stand and all the money went to charity.
For this year’s event, the Haabalas decided to help the fight against childhood cancer.
That was before their grandson, Cole Haabala, was diagnosed with Wilms disease, a rare form of kidney cancer that attacks children 3 to 8 years old.
That gave very special meaning to the lemonade fundraiser this year, which took place Wednesday.
The Haabalas rented a large inflatable bouncer and slide from the Alexandria Fire Department for the occasion. It was a natural addition to the event – Phil is a retired firefighter who logged more than 20 years with the department.
A brisk wind and the cold nip of fall in the air didn’t bother the big group of kids who turned up at the Haabalas’ yard on Jefferson Street. They had a great time hopping around in the bouncer and zipping down the slide – and selling lemonade for Cole, who was also at the event.
The Haabalas came up with a slogan, printed on T-shirts, that spelled out what they were doing: “Helping fight childhood cancer – one cup at a time.”
The price of the lemonade varied, depending on how much people gave for a cup. But the amount of change each customer received was the same: One penny.
“That’s for remembering Cole,” said a little girl at the stand. “Pray for him.”
A benefit for the Haabala family is scheduled for Sunday, October 18 at the Broadway Ballroom in Alexandria from 5 to 9 p.m. It will include a silent auction, prize drawings, food and refreshments. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at Cullen’s Home Center, Eko Backen Awards Plus and Karrow Jewelers.
Silent auction items may be dropped off with Jana Horstman at Cullen’s Home Center. Financial contributions can be sent to: Friends Helping Friends, LLC, P.O. Box 1218, Alexandria, MN 56308.
Updates on Cole Haabala are available on the website www.caringbridge.org/visit/colehaabala.
Tags: local news, pat and phil haabala, news, cancer, health, haabala, alexandria, lemonade
More from around the web
RSS Feeds