Lemonade Stand In Memory Of Little Girl, 9, Lost Too Soon

CUTCHOGUE, NY — The beautiful memory of Morgan West, 9, who died in April after battling cancer, lives on — and this weekend, "Helping Hands 4 Morgan", in her memory, has organized its third annual lemonade stand to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"Morgan's siblings, cousins, and friends are so excited to be selling lemonade and sweets on Sunday, August 12 and they will be donating all proceeds to St. Jude in Morgan's memory," event organizers said. "Last year they raised almost $2,000! Please help them surpass this amount and help other kids, like Morgan, who are battling cancer."

To reach the lemonade stand, follow the signs on Sunday at either end of Alvahs Lane in Cutchogue.

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."

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.

Patch courtesy photo.