How much good can a lemonade stand really do? Coldwell Banker Realty agent Martha Thorn and her team, known collectively as the Thorn Collection, have put that iconic childhood element to the test. Over the last nine years, they have held a lemonade stand fundraiser for just ONE afternoon each Fall. The result? They have collectively raised more than a quarter of a million dollars! The funds raised all benefit the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
In 2022, the Thorn Collection Lemonade Stand raised more than $65,000 at its community fundraising event, held from 4-6 pm, Thursday, October 20, 2022, in Belleair Bluffs near Clearwater. And it all started with a simple concept and just $3,000 raised in 2014, the first year. Every year since, Martha Thorn has set a goal to beat the previous year’s total donations.
“I want to thank all of our friends and clients for making our lemonade fundraiser such a success this year. We know that it will make a difference in a child’s life,” noted Martha Thorn. “We truly appreciate each and every one of you.”
According to the fundraising website says it is to support the fighters, admire the survivors, honor the taken and, above all, never give up hope for a cure.
Cancer is the No.1 cause of death by disease among children. One in 285 children will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday. Coupled with these alarming statistics is the fact that only a tiny percentage of the billions of government spending annually on cancer research goes specifically toward treating childhood cancer. Some estimates say this percentage is as little as 4%.
Martha Thorn says she credits the event’s success on repeat customers, amazing clients as well as the community outreach they do by email, mail, social media and advertising. For the last two years, the team has honored clients’ children who have battled cancer. In 2021, they honored a client’s son, Jackson Broom, who had passed away from cancer. His entire family and siblings were on hand at the lemonade stand to help raise money for the cause. For them, it was personal.
For the first time this year, the Thorn Collection Lemonade Stand also had a few local sponsors, including Lane’s Lemonade in Dunedin for donating the lemonade, Kookie Krums in Dunedin who donated wrapped cookies and Coastal Aire Design for donating a hot dog stand.
Martha Thorn and her team’s next big goal will be to cross the $100,000 donation mark for a single year. And with next year marking the event’s 10th anniversary, what better time to accomplish this?
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Coldwell Banker Realty in Florida is a leading residential real estate brokerage company with approximately 73 offices and 8,106 affiliated sales associates. Coldwell Banker Realty is owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE: HOUS), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States. Visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com.