Lemonade stand is a place of hope

One of Kelly Taggart’s fondest memories of his son John was seeing how thrilled he was at the lemonade stand he organized to help raise money for cancer research.

“He was so happy that day,” the 33-year-old Costa Mesa man said. “To see him hand out lemonade and see so many people come and support the cause … it was amazing.”

John was following the lead of Alexandra “Alex” Scott who, also battling cancer, started up her own lemonade stand in Philadelphia.

John, who was diagnosed shortly after his second birthday in 2002 with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, suffered a relapse in the fall of 2005 and died in October of that year..

Kelly and Tamara Taggart organized this year’s annual “Alex’s Lemonade Fundraiser” to be held in memory of their “bravest little son” Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Babystyle, a baby clothing boutique near the Fashion Island shopping center’s carousel in Newport Beach.

In 2000, Alexandra (Alex) Scott, then 4 years old, opened a lemonade stand in her front yard with a goal of raising enough money to cure all kids with cancer. She held one annually until her death in 2004. The event helped raise $1 million.

“We heard about her [Alex] because … [John] had the same cancer,” Taggert said. “We got her book ‘Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand’ and read it to John. He loved it.”

Following Alex’s example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events have been held across the country. The Taggart family’s effort has joined thousands of others.

“It only made sense to follow her lead,” Kelly Taggart said. “By participating in this weekend’s event, we hope to pay tribute to our son and raise awareness.”

John, who had a weakness for Slurpees and riding his Razor scooter, urged his family to help him organize the fundraiser after he developed the cancer above his left kidney. The cancer soon spread to 75% of his bone marrow, causing him to limp.

“He was a very independent boy,” his father said. “We knew something was wrong when he wanted us to hold him a lot and rub his back.”

It was John’s idea for the family to host their first lemonade stand in 2005 in the shopping center’s courtyard.

Saturday’s fundraiser will be the third the family has organized; they have raised more than $18,000 since 2005. This year, the foundation hopes to raise $25,000 by selling 200 gallons of lemonade, as well as cookies, bracelets and bandanas.

“It will be a big event,” Kelly Taggart said. “It’s one you’ll have to see to believe.”