Lemonade fundraiser raises nearly $9,000

Kelly and Tamara Taggart, who hosted Saturday’s “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” fundraiser at Fashion Island in memory of their son, John, reported that the event had raised $8,754.08 as of Tuesday.

John Taggart was 5 when he asked his parents to help organize the first lemonade stand in 2005 in memory of Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who died from the same rare form of cancer he was diagnosed with in 2000.

He had read a book about Alex titled “Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand.” John died in October 2005.

The Taggarts have been busy counting money and checks over the last few days, and while they are short of their goal, they are happy with what Kelly Taggart describes as a “sizable amount for a simple lemonade stand.”

Taggart is confident that the total will eventually exceed their goal of $9,000.

This is the third year the Taggarts have run the stand at Fashion Island.

All funds raised will benefit the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which funds research for neuroblastoma.

— Sue Thoensen