Camp Ave. students sell lemonade for a cure

Two local girls are making a difference in a big way –– one lemonade stand at a time.

Amanda Geist and Michaela Cassella, both 10-year-old fifth-graders at Camp Avenue Elementary School in North Merrick, who have been close friends since kindergarten, have been running lemonade stands on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in Merrick to raise money for cancer research. So far, the two girls have raised more than $750.

This past September, Geist’s grandfather died of lung cancer. Shortly after, Cassella approached Geist with the idea for the lemonade stand. "In school, I said to Amanda, ‘Why don't we do a lemonade stand for cancer [research]?" Cassella said.

The two set up their first stand on Sept. 18 at Horatio Avenue and Hanover Place. Since then, the girls and their parents have been on the same corner nearly every weekend working to raise money.

"This experience has been great for me,” Cassella said. “We have been working really hard, and we've been really, really dedicated and committed with each other that we are going to do this until they find a cure.”

Initially, the girls said their goal was to raise $100. After quickly reaching that amount, they changed the goal to $500, which they since have surpassed. Now their goal is $1,000. Once they reach that sum, they will send a check to the American Cancer Society.

Both girls have an extensive history of cancer in their families, with aunts, uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents who have suffered from the disease. Many have died of it.

"I think that our relatives in Heaven are really proud of us,” Geist said. “When we saw our relatives sick, it really broke my heart. Now we're determined to make a difference and find a cure for all types of cancers because people have to suffer from this horrible disease.”

In addition to lemonade -– which, according to this reporter, is delicious -– the girls also offer homemade fudge and an assortment of candies.

“They are rallying people behind a good cause,” said Christine Geist, Amanda’s mom. “For such young girls to think that they can make a difference and turn a tragedy into something really positive to help others has just been inspirational."