THOMASVILLE- Jerger Elementary School students came together for a common cause in October, collecting donations for Alex’s Lemonade Stand in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

JES Principal Emily Newman explained the school partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand three years ago after one of their students, Preslee Blalock was found to have a tumor behind her sinus cavity.

According to the website, Alex’s Lemonade Stand was founded in 2000, by Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was battling a neuroblastoma at the time. Following a successful lemonade stand, Scott donated her $2,000 proceeds to help doctors find cures for all children battling cancer.

“For the last three years, we’ve partnered with the local group from the foundation,” Newman said. “The kids bring in coins, dollars, or whatever donation they want for a two-week period.”

The proceeds raised by the students support the emotional, financial, and logistical challenges faced by families of children with cancer.

The cause hits close to home for students at Jerger, who have seen their friends, including Blalock and Rhealynn Mills fight childhood cancer.

Mills was diagnosed with an Osteosarcoma and underwent an amputation on her right leg in 2022. However, her friends, especially her classmates, have stood by her side throughout the chemo-therapy treatments and operations.

“It started as a local effort to support Preslee, but became a school wide-event after we were directly impacted,” Newman said. “We reached out to different opportunities, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand seemed to fit our niche, especially with kids this age.”

Students raise the funds, which are then presented and celebrated during recess time, where students can enjoy a lemonade stand as well.

During Tuesday’s recess, Blalock and Mills celebrated with a picnic and a check to Alex’s Lemonade Stand for $1,335.14.

Newman is proud of the students at Jerger who helped make this donation possible.

“It’s a good way to bring students together for a cause outside of their school building,” she said. “It’s very meaningful for them to raise money for something that has had an impact in our school, unfortunately.”