Lemonade stand raises $23,000 for cancer

ORLANDO, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- A pair of Orlando, Fla., third graders raised $23,856.73 for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center with their two-day "Think Pink Lemonade Stand."

Victoria Petrucelly and Jesse Theobal said they came up with the idea for a lemonade stand more than a year ago, but the idea evolved after Victoria's mother, Angela, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

"When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, we decided to make it a pink lemonade stand to raise money for people with cancer," Victoria said.

The pair operated their stand with help from their classmates at The Christ School during the weekend as a tribute to Angela Petrucelly, who died last month.

The girls estimated more than 65 million gallons of lemonade were served during their two-day sale. In addition to the money made from beverage sales, the girls received donations from supermarket Publix, Downtown Orlando, Chick-Fil-A, Lilly Pulitzer Park Avenue and Palmer's Garden & Goods.