Community rallies around Algonquin girl with cancer

In the year since 8-year-old Bella Yakos of Algonquin was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, the love and support she and her family have received from the community has been endless, said her mom, Jen Yakos.

The support continued this week with a lemonade stand fundraiser, hosted by the Goddard School in Elgin, 2496 Bushwood Drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Bella has been manning the booth the entire time,” Jen Yakos said. “She is having a really great time.”

All proceeds raised during the fundraiser, which ends Friday, will go toward the family to help pay for medical and travel expenses, as well as food, parking and any other costs, said Sheryl Nelson, owner of the Goddard School. The Goddard School also set up a GoFundMe account for Bella.

Total fundraising efforts exceeded the $10,000 mark Wednesday, Yakos said.

To help with the fundraiser, Nelson said, the community has contributed the lemonade ingredients, wooden signs, personalized cups and the hand-built and painted lemonade stand. Local businesses donated supplies such as ice and a freezer.

Friends, family, co-workers and complete strangers have made an appearance at the lemonade stand, Yakos said. Elgin police officers have also attended the fundraiser every day so far, she said.

“This (fundraiser) has been so fun and so awesome. It's unbelievable,” Yakos said. “It's really more than I could've ever imagined.”