As the outside temperature reached a sweltering 100 degrees, a group of Hagemann Elementary School second-grade pupils recently offered cool relief in the form of ice-cold lemonade.

During a five-hour period July 18, the Hagemann pupils operated Alex’s Lemonade Stand, raising $1,600 to fight pediatric cancer.

The money will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to finding a cure for all children with cancer. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was chosen to receive the proceeds after Hage-mann pupil Mickey Maddock did some research on the Internet, a Mehlville School District news release stated.

“The kids wanted to have a lemonade stand and donate the money to charity,” stated Kim Maddock, Mickey’s mother. “Mickey did a Google search and found the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and knew right away that he’d found the perfect charity for their lemonade stand.”

Mickey Maddock and some Hagemann Elementary School classmates — Phillip Nauman, Carter Anderson, Jack Walden and Lucas Thuro — prepared informational fliers and sent them to family members and other relatives. Their parents distributed the fliers at work, and the pupils took turns standing at the entrance to their subdivision waving signs and encouraging passers-by to stop by the stand.

“These boys are amazing when it comes to helping others,” Kim Maddock stated in the release. “On their birthdays, they often choose a charity and ask friends and relatives to make a donation instead of bringing a birthday gift to the party. I’m very proud of each of them.”

Encouraged by their success, she said the pupils no doubt will open Alex’s Lemonade Stand for business again next summer.

For additional information about the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit www.alexslemonade.org.