Lemonade Brigade raises money in memory of 'vivacious' Hanover Park boy

The Lemonade Brigade has been raising money for kids in need for the past year, and when the group found out this week that the brother of one of its founding members had died during a family camping trip, members marched into action with a lemonade stand Thursday to help with funeral expenses.

Bradley Diebold, a 2½-year-old from Hanover Park, was vivacious, full of energy and loved by many, his mom, MaryEllen Salas, said.

"He had (touched) so many peoples' hearts just because of how lively he was," Salas said. "He spent his life like everyone should: loving everyone, caring for everyone and just loving life."

Bradley was camping with his family last Saturday at Woodhaven Lakes Campground in Sublette when he disappeared unnoticed from the campsite. His family reported him missing at 12:38 p.m., and Woodhaven staff members later found him unresponsive in a canal about 30 yards from the family's campsite.

After hearing about the tragedy, the Lemonade Brigade prepared more than 15 gallons of lemonade, pink lemonade and strawberry-orange-banana drink to sell in McHenry. The group hopes to raise $10,000.

Brigade members were presented with a surprise $250 check from DeAnn Springer of Star Charities around noon Thursday. The girls agreed the money would go directly to Bradley's family.

Bradley's half-sister, Baylon Diebold, a 12-year-old McHenry resident, said one of her favorite memories of Bradley was when he learned his first word.

"His first word was 'hi,'" Baylon said. "So he would walk up to random strangers and always say, 'Hi,' and he said it over and over until he heard someone say it back."

Bradley had Dravets syndrome, a rare type of epilepsy that caused him to have several seizures a day.

Despite his health issues, Salas said, he was always happy and loved to learn.

"You would never know he was sick," Salas added.

Aubrey Hennig, a 12-year-old McHenry resident and a founder of the Lemonade Brigade, said Thursday's lemonade stand is different from the others the group has run.

"It's a lot more touching and it really means a lot to know that we're raising money for someone who was kind of like my brother," Aubrey said.

Because of his seizures, Bradley had a service dog named Paris. Salas said in addition to being missed by family and friends, Bradley is deeply missed by Paris.

"The other day she grabbed his shoes from the front door and put them on her bed and put her head on them," Salas said.

And family and friends have been rallying to support Bradley for a while.

Earlier in the year, Baylon said, they came up with an idea called Superhero Bradley.

"We would give him little capes and put pictures on social media platforms, and it just kind of got popular," Baylon said.

It was popular enough to garner support from the girls volleyball team in McHenry.

"Our team last year would try to wear purple at practices, and we made a poster and everyone signed it and it said 'Superhero Bradley' on it," Aubrey said.

The Lemonade Brigade had raised $2,000 by 3 p.m., and members expected to raise more as the evening brought farmers market and concert traffic to the park.

"I feel so blessed and thankful to see what so many people are doing for Bradley," Salas said. "It brings me joy and happiness."

The funeral is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Salerno's Rosedale Chapels at 450 W. Lake St. in Roselle, with a chapel service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery in Wheaton.