Lemon Toss Challenge: “More Than Just a Fundraiser”

As part of childhood cancer awareness month, two local teachers have decided to take part in raising awareness and funds for the cause by organizing a lemon toss challenge at the Wolverines, Beaver Falls football game this evening.

Cara Atkinson, a teacher at the Ellwood City School District and creator and sponsor of Club Hope at the high school, has teamed up with her brother, Nick Nardone, the head coach of Beaver Falls to put together what they hope to be a annual event.

“This is our first year doing the lemon toss challenge, but we hope to make it a yearly event to continue raising money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation,” Atkinson stated.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is a national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into new treatments and cures for all children battling cancer, started by a cancer patient, 4-year-old Alexandra Scott who raised over one million dollars for cancer research through her lemonade stand idea. Sadly, she passed away in 2004 at the age of eight.

Throughout the week leading up to today, the school district has hosted several smaller events for students and teachers to partake in to increase the donated funds.

Tonight everyone is encouraged to wear yellow to the game in order to show their support, especially to the two Ellwood City School District students affected by childhood cancer.

“This is more than just a fundraiser, this is the community banning together to show our students, who are battling this terrible thing, that they aren’t fighting alone,” Atkinson said. “We are fighting with them and supporting them every step of the way.”

During halftime two teachers from each district will face off in a one-minute challenge, throwing yellow footballs made to look like lemons into a garbage bag that is made to represent a lemonade pitcher. The losing teacher has to wear a team shirt from the opposing school for the rest of the game.

Additional donations will be collected during the game or can be placed in the care of Cara Atkinson through any of the Ellwood City School District schools.