Glen Ellyn takes a stand with Lemon-Aid

Three years ago, when he started his lemonade stand to raise money for brain tumor research, Reid Colliander never expected his efforts to turn into a daylong event of volunteerism and camaraderie.

That's just what happened Saturday though, when 12-year-old Reid and more than 500 of his bicycling friends hit the streets of Glen Ellyn on a 5K ride to raise money for Children's Memorial Hospital.

The parking lots near St. Petronille Catholic Church, 420 Glenwood St., were filled Saturday morning with blue and yellow balloons, makeshift tents for silent auctions and snacks and a disc jockey pumping up the crowd.

Reid was diagnosed with a brain tumor five years ago and went through more than three years of rehabilitation. During rehab, he made a promise to help others if he could.

In 2005, he founded Reid's Lemon-Aid Stand. By selling lemonade, he and his buddies raised more than $9,000 to help sick kids.

In total, Reid's team has raised more than $45,000 from lemonade stands and last year's bike-a-thon. He hoped to raise $50,000 alone Saturday.

It will be a few days before he knows if they reached the goal, but he knew the event was a success before he even got on his bike.

"There's a lot of people here volunteering and helping us do this," he said before the ride. "That says a lot to me about the people here that I don't even know that jumped in to help me and all the other kids we're helping."

Beth Fawcett, Reid's Lemon-Aid Foundation board member, said the group of participating children from Glen Ellyn and Wheaton has grown from about 40 kids to more than 125.

Ultimately, Reid would like them to collect $1 million for research.

"It'll take a while, but we had to start with a goal, and $1 million sounded like a good number," he said.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam also presented Reid with a framed copy of House Resolution 424, which honors Reid and the volunteers and encourages others to recognize May as National Brain Cancer Awareness Month. Roskam also presented him with a flag flown over the Capitol.

"Keep up the gas," Roskam said. "You're doing a great job, and we're all proud of you."

Next year, he wants to double the 500 riders and the contributions, Reid said.

"We'll have to work a little harder to get the word out, but every dollar helps."