When 9-year-old Maari Dickerson was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last week, her school decided to rally to help raise funds for her family.
Her third-grade class at Washington-Hoyt Elementary School will host a lemonade stand 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Proctor Farmers Market, at North 27th and North Proctor streets.
“We’ve kind of gone with the theme, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’” Megan Gibson, Dickerson’s teacher, said.
Dickerson’s family has been keeping people informed of her condition via Facebook posts, Gibson said.
She has started a 40-week cycle of chemotherapy and radiation to fight the cancer, which her family first thought was a sinus infection. The tumor caused her to lose vision in her right eye and will require out-of-state treatment, Gibson said, adding that the family is hopeful her vision will return.
Gibson said Megan Jennings, a teacher who took over the class when Gibson went on maternity leave this year, helped organize the lemonade stand.
“It was a way to involve her classmates, because they’re all very, very concerned,” Gibson said. “It’s just come on so quickly, and it’s just been a long, scary week.”
Lemonade also will be sold from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Poppy and Co. at 765 Broadway, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cafe Europa at North 25th and North Proctor streets.
Donations can be made through www.maari dickerson.com.
alexis.krell@ thenewstribune.com 253-597-8268 blog.thenewstribune.com/crime