Cranberry Youngster with Cancer Serving as Honorary Host at Community Fundraiser

For a youngster whose average day usually includes time spent at the hospital, chemotherapy injections and series of tests, Kaelin Thimons, of Cranberry Township, is ready for a day that will be anything but average.

From 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at Fun Fore All Family Entertainment Center in Cranberry, Kaelin, along with children with cancer from all over the region will enjoy a day of games, rides, food and fun at the community-wide fifth Annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand and HELP ’13 (hope, enjoy, laugh, play).

Kaelin will serve as this year’s honorary host of the event, which is organized by Cranberry residents Lori and Dave Silvester and their two children, Kate, 13, and Harrison, 10.

Ranked as a national “grand stand” because of its size, success in fundraising, and carnival atmosphere, the event helps support pediatric cancer research through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Through the years, it has grown to be the biggest lemonade stand in Cranberry history.

This year’s event includes appearances by the Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot, Garrison Carida Star Wars characters, a cash cube sponsored by PNC Bank, a dunk tank featuring Seneca Valley and St. Kilian teachers, Shriners clowns and balloon art, basket raffles, and a mini golf hole-in-one contest.

Attendees who donate $5 or $10 to Alex’s Foundation at the event will receive a matching FUN card from Fun Fore All to be used at their convenience. They’ll also have the opportunity to bid on Steelers, Penguins, and other autographed memorabilia.

Through the stand, the Silvesters and supporters have raised more than $60,000 to date. Money from the event helps support childhood cancer research projects by funding studies of new cures and treatments and encouraging and educating others, especially children.

The Silvester family and a team of volunteers also will be serving up Chick-fil-A lemonade all day at the event.

For more information, or to donate online, visit http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/89350 or stop by Fun Fore All for a flyer.

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