6-year-old Texas boy's lemonade stand raises $10,000 for cancer-stricken dad

Drew Cox knows how to make lemonade out of lemons – and then some.

The 6-year-old Gladewater, Texas, boy reportedly took in more than $10,000 in one day at a lemonade stand he set up to raise money for his sick dad.

Randy Cox was diagnosed with seminoma earlier this year, according to KLTV. That’s typically a type of testicular cancer, but in Cox’s case it’s non-testicular and tumors appeared in his chest and elsewhere in his body, colleagues say. The condition is treatable with chemotherapy.


Drew said he felt sad and wanted to help his father with medical bills.

“He is so important to me. We like to play with each other. Lots of times we like to play games," Drew told KLTV.

Randy Cox says he has medical insurance but still will have to pay thousands of dollars in medical costs out of pocket.

“You know it almost made me cry. It's nice knowing that my kids care so much for me," Randy said of his son’s business venture.

Drew opened his stand for business outside his home on Saturday morning, charging 25 cents a cup. Word of his benevolent venture spread quickly, with some customers coming from dozens of miles away.  One person wrote a $5,000 check and by the end of the day, Drew raised more than $10,000, his family told KLTV.

Drew isn’t the only one raising money for his dad. Tameka Royal, a longtime friend of Randy Cox, has set up a website account, www.giveforward.com/randycox, to solicit contributions for the family, which includes Randy and his wife, Tonya Cooley Cox, and three boys: Drew, 6, Jake, 4, and Micah, 7 months.

“Randy and I have been friends for a long time because we went to school together at Sabine High School,” Royal told msnbc.com in an email. “His wife and I have been friends since we were 6 years old from dance class. When I heard of his cancer, I immediately began to pray for him and his family. I asked God to give me direction as to how to help them and get others to help this wonderful family.”

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Discuss this post

I know Gladewater, Texas. You'll feel like good old time again there, where people stop to socialize, where neighbors know one another, where kids play outside and walk the town without being stalked. It's a small, hospitality, Texas style!!!

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:33 PM EDT

Pray that they can apply MediCaid or MediCal and his dad's campany may help him and the family can apply some kind of social programs, e.g. unemployment due to sickness, and the kids can also apply some kind of health care coverage for kids . . .

Pray that they will continue to receive financial help. Thanks for those who have helped this family, especially the one who donated 5000.00 from a long way. Thanks for the Good Samaritans and thanks for the news channels have spread the news. God bless.

  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:25 AM EDT

Bravo to all above and to this child for helping! It is good to remember that most people are generous and willing to help a neighbor in need.

Yet, in celebrating their actions, we are missing the larger point.

We are the richest country in the world, and a child needs to sell lemonade to pay for his father's medical bills? Really?

I am not getting political or saying Obama's plan is the right way to go or not. But we do need to look at the big picture here and realize that there needs to be a better way for a guy to pay for his cancer treatments than a lemonade stand.

    #2.1 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:56 PM EDT

    We are the richest country in the world, and a child needs to sell lemonade to pay for his father's medical bills? Really?
    Actually, Luxembourg is the richest country but nonetheless, point taken.

    • 1 vote
    #2.2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:37 PM EDT
    Reply

    Wow, just wow! There is hope for humans yet. How wonderful the help pouring out from the community to help a child help his Dad. Drew, sounds like you have a wonderful Dad & Mom. They are raising you right. Please don't ever change. Your morals & values instilled in you will take you a long way in life. God Bless you all.

    • 4 votes
    Reply#3 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:25 AM EDT

    Well said, Kat!

      #3.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:34 PM EDT

      What a wondercul story. It's nice to read something so positive for a change!

        #3.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:49 PM EDT

        This is what you consider POSITIVE change?

          #3.3 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:37 AM EDT

          Yes. it sucks tha his dad has cancer, but honestly, that happens every day. Call me an optimist, but I think it's good to see this kid raising money so successfully. ...and to see the community rallying around this family in their time of need.

            #3.4 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:51 AM EDT
            Reply

            It is very fortunate that they live in a state with some intelligent leadership! If they had lived here in Illinois, he would now be under arrest for not having a health permit and a vendors license. He would now be facing $25,00 in fines! Remember it's the Progressives that care about the common man, as long as he has paid the proper fees and recieved the proper permits and licensing!

            • 1 vote
            Reply#4 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:57 PM EDT

            However, at the same time, do you really want to drink lemonade that a six year old has made? I don't.

              #4.1 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:22 AM EDT
              Reply

              Give me a break! Pray? Make lemonade when your dad has cancer? What is wrong with this country? How about create a healthcare system that SAVES PEOPLE'S LIVES instead of bankrupting and killing them?

              • 3 votes
              Reply#5 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:59 PM EDT
              Comment author avatarChristina Derrvia Facebook

              Yes, that needs to happen but don't down play the actions of this 6 year old. Besides, even if he had free health care he will probably miss work and would still need financial support.

              I will never understand those out there that say it is ok to deny healthcare (potentially costing someone their life) because someone can't afford it. That might because I struggle with my own chronic illness but I'd like to think it is because I am human and actually have a heart.

              • 1 vote
              #5.1 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:52 PM EDT

              Because there is no profit it in.

                #5.2 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:38 AM EDT

                My thoughts exactly!!!

                Bravo to this child, but are we really happy that we live in a society where a child needs to sell lemonade to pay for his father's medical bills? We are the richest country in the world!

                  #5.3 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:53 PM EDT

                  Unfortunately, we seem to not have enough citizens who care about their fellow countrymen and women to push our congress to do something about this situation.

                    #5.4 - Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:50 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    Wonderful story about many wonderful people. May Mr. Cox recover quickly and all concerned with this act of love lead long, prosperous and happy lives.

                      Reply#6 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:08 AM EDT

                      What a blessing this little boy is to his family! God is working wonders in his life. He may not have known exactly what was going on but he was determined to help out his dad, and that he did. This should give everyone hope and to stay positive even in the darkest of times, there is always someone out there doing wonderful things.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#7 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:01 PM EDT

                      What else can anybody say but "awww". God bless this little boy. The parents should be thankful that they have such an angel.

                        Reply#8 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:34 AM EDT

                        This story is sick. It is a disgrace to your country. A 6 year old boy should not be burdened with something like this. In civilized countries we don't lose our home if we get sick nor do our children feel forced onto the street to help save daddy. What is wrong with you people can't you wrap you head around the idea that for profit health care just does not work?

                        • 3 votes
                        Reply#9 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:35 AM EDT

                        This is a disgrace, that a six-year old child should have to worry about his parents going bankrupt due to illness. No child in any country in western Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Brunei, the UAE, Israel, and many other countries would have to do such a thing.

                        As an American, I find it deeply embarrassing and shameful that our government can find the money to wage two wars, but it refuses to implement a system to provide health care for its own citizens.

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#10 - Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:47 PM EDT

                        single payer not for profit health care system =socialism

                        lemonade stand=capitalism

                        vote wisely

                          Reply#11 - Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:59 PM EDT
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