Lemonade Stand Honoring Little Girl Lost To Cancer Raises $6K+

NORTH FORK, NY — It was a day of love — and lemonade — as a crowd turned out in droves to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in memory of Morgan West, 9, who died in April after a brave battle with cancer.

"After six hours, 30 gallons of lemonade, and with the support of family, friends, and community, we made an astonishing $6,576 for the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Morgan's memory," organizers of the third annual Helping Hands 4 Morgan's "Lemonade for St. Jude" event said. "Thank you to everyone that came out to support Morgan and our family and for all the wonderful donated goodies and signs. The kids are beyond excited that they well surpassed their goal of $2,000. We couldn't be more proud of them. So grateful to this amazing community. Morgan was shining down on us all day!"

The children, including Morgan's siblings, cousins and friends, happily collected the money for lemonade, cookies, brownies and other treats, ringing a bell every time a person gave am extra donation more than the amount of what they'd purchased.

Erin Dickerson, Morgan's aunt, said her family holds the lemonade stand event at their home every year. "We help organize the event, but the kids run it all, sharing their stories and donating all the proceeds to St. Jude, to help other kids battling cancer," she said.

Of the outpouring of love, Nikki West, Morgan's mom, said: "It's amazing. This is a wonderful community."

She added: "I'm beyond proud of these kids. They worked so incredibly hard to raise money for other children with cancer and, with the amazing support of this community, beyond exceeded their expectations. Thank you all for the continued support of our family, St. Jude, and for helping us keep Morgan's memory alive!"

Morgan passed away at home in Cutchogue on April 6 after a six-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.

Her parents, Adam and Nikki West, said Morgan was a third grade student at Cutchogue Elementary School, who "loved all things Disney, especially her Winnie-the-Pooh; her annual family trips to Damariscotta Lake, Maine; playing baby dolls with her loving big sister, Hunter; running around laughing, sans clothing, with her hilarious little brother, Wyatt; goofing around with all her cousins; sleepovers at her grandparents; her two best friends; playing soccer with the Queen Bees; and most of all, snuggling with her family in her most absolute favorite place to be, home."

(The lemonade stand fundraiser, which Morgan West helped to run every year, was held in her memory on Sunday).

At two-and-a-half years old, Morgan was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Her life expectancy was roughly a year.

"Fighting cancer was her super power. Brave and strong throughout her journey, she defied all odds. A warrior through it all, she never complained or thought of herself over others. She had a wicked sense of humor that always kept her family laughing and taught them to enjoy each and every day," her family said.

Her memory lives on forever, all who loved her agree: "Morgan taught us more in her nine years than we could have ever taught her in a lifetime. She touched the hearts of so many and we couldn't be more proud of her," her family said.

Photos by Lisa Finn; photo of previous year's event and of Morgan courtesy West family.