Homer Glen lemonade stand sets lofty goal for 8th fundraiser

Austin Bielski has traveled a long way since he was an 8 -year -old boy who hugs a bundle of crumpled tickets that he has prepared to donate to the pediatric foundation on the treasure in oncology.

Austin, now 15 years old, thought about it when he was younger and wanted to hold a lemonade stand “because that’s what children do”.

The lemonade stand won just over $ 100 in 2018, and his mother, Candice Bielski, urged her to give funds to a charity. Together, they decided on the Pediatrics Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, a non -profit organization in Orland Park who helps bring joy to children undergoing cancer treatment.

After the excitement of making the first donation, they wanted to do it again the following year, said Bielski.

Austin, by Homer Glen, has decided to keep the lemonade standing a summer tradition, and its collection of funds cups 4 cancer has hitherto won nearly $ 35,000.

The product also supported the CC2 Forever Foundation, an organization that collects awareness and research for the aggressive glioblastoma of brain cancer, in honor of Connor Christian, a baseball player of the secondary school of the canton of Lockport, deceased from the disease in 2021.

Funds have also been given to Cal’s Angels, a foundation that supports awareness of pediatric cancer, the search for funds and grants for wishes for children fighting for cancer.

Austin, a three -sports athlete who will enter his second year at the Lockport Township High School, said that he hoped that his next lemonade stand is the best to date.

This year, he reserved funds for the benefit of Weish4ever, which provides direct financial assistance to families with adolescents and young adults fighting cancer.

The collection of CUPS 4 Cancer funds will be dedicated to the former teammate of the Junior School of Austin, Dylan Krestan, who has been fighting Hodgkin lymphoma for several months.

While Austin and Dylan now frequent separate secondary schools, Austin said it was a dynamic duo of porter-tours years ago to Homer Junior High School.

The lemonade stand will also sell for 4 Dylan bracelets in black and green, and a scratch lotto will be drawn for $ 2 per entrance, said Bielski.

Austin said he would like if they could reach at least $ 50,000 in life gains.

“It would be a big goal,” he said.

While each cup of lemonade costs $ 1, some customers have offered much more.

“It looks like people come together to support a cause,” said Austin. “It’s more than a small lemonade stand.”

Companies in the Homer Glen region have written checks.

The real estate agents of Lemont Christine Wilczek and Jason Bacza sponsored the event and helped the design of the logo, personalized collection cups, t-shirts, marketing and supplies. They also made generous financial contributions, said Bielski.

“This boy has an absolute pure gold heart,” said Wilczek. “He’s such a big child. He’s such a brilliant star. We love to sponsor him. “

Wilczek congratulated Austin for donating his time and efforts to collect funds from 4 cancer and help local children fight against cancer.

“What he does, I want more children to go on the plate,” she said.

Austin said he is impatiently awaiting the stand of the lemonade each year and spoke with people who stop. He particularly likes to see money coming because he knows that he will support a good cause. He said that 100% of income goes to the charity.

“Without (community support), it would not be possible or as big as it,” said Austin.

What started as a neighborhood lemonade stand has become something much bigger, said the Bielski family.

People donated cookies and “pocket hugs” for sale. The Sheriff deputies and the Sheriff’s Sheriff’s Sheriff has stopped over the years, and people have come from the whole suburbs to buy a cup of lemonade after hearing the event on social networks, said Bielski.

In 2020, the family wondered if they were to hold the stand of the lemonade because of the pandemic, but decided that tradition would continue.

“Cancer does not stop because of Covid,” said Bielski.

They donated nearly $ 2,000 that year.

In 2023, Austin, who had a postal address from Orland Park but who lives in Homer Glen, received the Community Pride prize by the former mayor of Orland Park, Keith Pekau. During the meeting, Pekau and the mayor of Homer Glen Christina Neitzke-Troike each gave $ 500 to his cause.

“We never thought it would be so big,” said Bielski.

The 8th annual cup cancer will take place from noon to 4:22 p.m. July 22 at 12056 Lake View Drive, Orland Park.

An VenMo option is also available on the Facebook page of Casse 4 of cancer.

Community members can also donate on weish4ever.harnessgiving.org/campaigns.

Michelle Mullins is a journalist independent of the Daily Southtown.