DOWNERS GROVE – Friends and neighbors of 10-year-old Sofia Sanchez turned out in a big way July 7 to support a lemonade stand designed to raise funds for the Downers Grove girl who has cardiomyopathy.
A line stretched half way down Adelia Street for a chance to buy lemonade, lemonade shake- ups and a variety of homemade treats.
Downers Grove firefighters and police officers stopped by to lend their support as did numerous families and teachers from Kingsley Elementary School, where Sofia is a fifth-grader.
Families involved with the Downers Grove Panthers football team, for whom Sofia is a cheerleader, and the Downers Grove Rebels, Sofia’s softball team, also showed up to support her.
Some people did not purchase lemonade but gave money to children who were posted at nearby intersections promoting the event.
“It was pretty amazing,” said Kristen Westendorf, one of several Adelia Street residents who helped organize the event. “It was nonstop the whole time. At no point were we without a big handful of people."
The lemonade stand raised about $4,800 – an amount that far exceeded organizers’ expectations.
"I had thought maybe a few hundred bucks," Westendorf said.
Adelia Street resident Jenine Virgen, Sofia’s aunt, contacted her niece via FaceTime so she could get an up-close look at the turnout for the fundraiser.
On July 5, Sofia underwent a cardio catheterization at Lurie Children’s Hospital “that gave the doctors a better insight [into] her plan of treatment and prognosis,” according to a post on the GoFundMe page started to raise money to help pay her medical expenses.
Cardiomyopathy is an incurable disease that causes heart failure.
“As the doctors predicted, Sofia’s heart is unable to recover or improve on its own,” the post stated. “Despite all of the medication she is currently taking, the doctors are going to sit down with [her parents], Dave and Natalie, and talk about moving forward with a heart transplant. This is overwhelming news and they are doing their best to stay calm and strong for their family.”
The GoFundMe page is another successful component of fundraising efforts initiated by friends and neighbors. The page, Stay Strong Sofia, has raised more than $34,000 over eight days. The inital goal was $5,000.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” said Julie Price, a neighbor who organized the GoFundMe page. “It’s a long road. I think everyone realizes that. It's amazing when you request help from the community. It's surprising. It's wonderful."
How to help
Anyone interested in donating can visit Sofia’s GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/stay-strong-sofia.