Preschoolers Hold Lemonade Stand for Sick Friend

Six preschoolers from Kensington Preschool in LaGrange will be selling lemonade to help a sick friend during Friday’s afternoon commute.

Their four-year-old classmate Chris Ellis was just diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that begins in the sympathetic nervous system and affects mostly children under age five.

The children will be setting up their lemonade stand in front of Vintage Charm at 729 W. Hillgrove Ave. on the corner of Hillgrove and Brainard from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. The Kensington preschoolers hope to entice commuters from the Stone Avenue Metra Station into buying some delicious lemonade and cookies.

“Our idea started out as a small lemonade stand for the kids, but via social media, seems to have spread very quickly,” teacher Sarah Lorenzi said.

Chris just finished his first chemo session at Comer Children’s Hospital, so he may swing by with his mom for some cheering up from his pals.

In addition to selling lemonade and cookies, the preschoolers will be handing out fliers to commuters as they get off the train to let them know about the “Chris Ellis Give Forward” page so they can make an online donation when they get home.

“This is a small class of seven so it is a tight-knit group,” Lorenzi said.

PHOTO: Chris Ellis, 4, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that affects children under age 5.