The business of charity

It’s common for kids to run lemonade stands on weekends, but usually

they’re doing it to make money for candy and toys.

Caleigh Wells and Mackenzie Perkins, ten-year-old Corona del Mar

residents, recently raised $161 for ovarian cancer research by

selling baked goods, coffee, lemonade and hand-painted greeting

cards.

The girls set up shop Aug. 20 outside Mackenzie’s house, which is

near the Corona del Mar Farmer’s Market.

“It was in the morning, so people would come by and get some

coffee and cookies,” Caleigh said.

She said that many of the people who stopped and bought items

either knew someone with cancer or had it themselves.

Caleigh was very close with her grandmother, Rona Wells, who died

from the disease more than a year ago after a four-year battle.

After she passed away, the Wells family set up a fund in her name

through the Lynne Cohen Foundation, an organization devoted to

supporting research to improve the survival rates for women with

ovarian cancer.

“What we really focus on, and what our special niche is, is the

emerging role of screening and prevention in women’s cancers,” said

Trudy Harris, co-executive director of the Lynne Cohen Foundation.

Harris said the foundation allows people to set up their own

mini-foundations. The family chooses a research project that they

want to fund and is involved every step of the way -- meeting the

doctors in charge of the research and receiving periodic updates from

the foundation.

The Rona Wells Memorial Fund has raised more than $26,000 to date.

“We want to get past the $30,000 mark,” said Kim Wells, Caleigh’s

mother, who added they will probably make it after the upcoming

Kickin’ Cancer 5K.

Last year, the entire family participated in the foundation’s

annual 5K and raised a few thousand dollars. This year, their

10-person team -- “Rona’s Rebels” -- will take part once again, and

Kim Wells said she expects that will put their fund over the $30,000

mark.

She said last year Caleigh raised $21 by selling flower

arrangements and paintings. While gearing up for the 5K again this

year, which is scheduled for Sept. 18 in Brentwood, Caleigh started

brainstorming ways to raise money. She and Mackenzie worked

diligently the week before their sale, painting greeting cards that

they sold for $2 each.

Harris said what Caleigh has done is remarkable because most

children feel helpless at the loss of a loved one.

“I just think it’s amazing for a little girl to be so proactive,”

Harris said. “I think that Rona Wells must have been an amazing

person because she touched so many people.”

For more information on the Lynne Cohen Foundation, visit

o7www.lynnecohenfoundation.orgf7, or call (877) OVARY-11.

For more information on the Kickin’ Cancer 5K, visit

o7www.kickincancer.comf7.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at

(714) 966-4625 or [email protected].