They spent a portion of their Friday morning fueling up on lemonade all in the name of raising money for childhood cancer causes.

In the process, the Behavioral Health Associates within the Intensive Social Skills Training at Willow Academy in Lehighton smashed last year’s total for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

A total of $1,121 was raised, which easily eclipsed last year’s total of $620 that was raised, said Heather Smith, a kindergarten and first-grade special education teacher at Behavioral Health Associates.

In addition to lemonade, hot dogs, popcorn, and other baked goods were sold to help raise funds as part of the second consecutive year the event was held at Willow Academy.

Smith said the goal last year was to raise $50, but because that event did so well they upped it to $150, and ended up earning $620 overall.

As a result, she said this year’s goal was $650, for which they were almost halfway there before they started.

“This event was a huge success,” Smith said. “Our students nearly doubled their goal of $650, and learned a valuable lesson in giving back to others in need.

“They were able to work collaboratively during the stand, and focused on enhancing their communication skills. Helping to run the lemonade stand not only supports Alex’s Lemonade, it also helps to support the need of our student population by allowing them to have an opportunity some of them may never be a part of elsewhere.”

Smith noted that before the event, students worked on project-based learning experiences and created advertisements to promote their stand.

“They were very excited to help raise awareness for Alex’s Lemonade, and all of their hard work came to light during the lemonade stand,” she said. “We look forward to our third annual lemonade stand next year.”

Smith noted that the online donation page, https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/3683787 will remain open until May 24.

The foundation has raised over $300 million since 2005.