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Lombard girl raises $9,300 for cancer research

To raise money for childhood cancer research, 8-year-old Anna Ciamarra, a Lombard girl now in remission from leukemia, hosted a lemonade stand Saturday at Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst.

Anna and her family raised more than $4,000 at the lemonade stand alone.

"She recognizes, I think, what she's been through and why that's important," Ruth, Anna's mother, said. "She's not raising this money for herself, she's raising this for other kids."

Between the stand, classroom competitions and online donations, they've raised roughly $9,300. They are keeping the online donations open through June in order to reach their goal of $10,000.

"I don't want to close it until we hit 10, since that was the goal," Ruth said. "We're pretty close."

It was not just local residents who attended the event. This year, they even had people come from places like Mundelein or Northbrook to help the cause, Ruth said.

"It wasn't just about the fundraising," Ruth said. "It was also about the awareness and the sense of community supporting our daughter and our family."

The money goes toward Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national organization that raises money for cancer research.

This is the third year Anna and her family have hosted the lemonade stand. The first year they raised about $2,000, and the second year they raised about $15,000.

Ruth is optimistic that they'll reach their goal this year.

"We're going to keep the page open," Ruth said. "So if anybody still wants to contribute, they can."

For those wanting to donate, visit alexslemonade.org/mypage/1439001.

'I like to help people in need and kids with cancer,' says girl who has cancer herself

The Ciamarra family raised thousands of dollars for cancer research last weekend at their lemonade stand at Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst. Courtesy of the Ciamarra family
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