Long Island 7-Year-Old To Host Lemonade Stand For Kids With Cancer

WEST SAYVILLE, NY — One Long Island boy is using his summer vacation to help make a difference.

Ethan Sessa-Adames, 7, of West Sayville, will host a lemonade stand on Saturday with his family, and plans to donate the proceeds to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Susan Sessa, Ethan’s grandmother, spoke with Patch about her grandson’s wish to help others.

“Last year we were going to have a lemonade stand, but we didn't have one,” she said.

When Sessa suggested, again, that Ethan have a lemonade stand this year, he told her that didn’t want to spend his proceeds on toys, but for something greater than himself, she said.

“He told me, ‘I don't need toys. I've got plenty of toys in my house. Can we donate the money?’" she said. “He said, ‘I want to give it to kids with cancer.’”

Sessa said that the idea to donate the money was something Ethan came up with all on his own.

“He's very empathetic toward people,” she said. “His teacher loved him. She said, ‘Whenever, another kid was crying (in the classroom), he'd always go over and try to make them laugh.’”

While Ethan does not know any other child with cancer, he may have been inspired by his own family, Sessa said.

Her cousin, who was in his late 20s, died last year of brain cancer, she said. Sessa herself is also a cancer survivor and is in remission.

“It really hurt him. He was very upset, and he just didn’t understand,” she said.

Sessa said Ethan is excited to host the lemonade stand. Together, he and his family created posters and told his classmates about the plan.

He has already received more than $200 in donations from people who cannot physically come in person as of Wednesday, Sessa said.

The lemonade stand will take place at 47 Rollstone Avenue in West Sayville beginning at 11 a.m.

As for how long they’ll be open, Sessa knows one thing: “When we run out of lemonade,” she said.