JACKSONVILLE BEACH. Fla. – A local 17-year-old cancer survivor was hoping to make a difference while handing out cool treats in Jacksonville Beach.
Gracey Smith was diagnosed with hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is using her story to help spread awareness for other families battling childhood cancer.
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Gracey was just like any 17-year-old. She was very active and involved in sports until she was diagnosed with cancer. She is now on the road to recovery but she still deals with the aftermath of treatments.
On Wednesday, Gracey was the "Chief Ice Maker," serving up Rita's treats and telling her story to customers to help the company kick off more than a month of fundraising. For every dollar that's donated, customers will get a free kid-sized Italian ice.
"It's about the kids. It's really sad and there should be a cure," Gracey said.
Revving up the ice cream machines is usually something Jack Jones does every day at his store. But it was a different story on Wednesday when Gracey took over.
"She's going to make Italian ice and learn how to make other treats. Then, she's serving the customers and raising money for childhood cancer. When someone like Gracey comes to a business like ours, it puts a face on that effort and hey this lemon helped me helped my family, helped my life and that's much more relatable for people," said Jones.
The lemons are a sign of money raised for Rita's Italian Ice and their partner, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Alex's Lemonade Stand started with a little lemonade stand and a cancer victim in Pennsylvania trying to help herself and others like her. It turned into a national foundation and Rita's Italian ice was there right at the beginning back in 2006.
Gracey kicked off the company's month-and-a-half long effort for fundraising.
Rita's Italian ice gave 10 percent of its profits Wednesday to help fund transportation for families needing medical treatment.
They will be accepting donations through the month of May. With 600 Rita's stores nationwide, their goal is to raise $400,000 this year. In the last nine years, Rita's has raised $3.9 million.
The money helps families with children battling cancer. It covers hotels, transportation, meals and anything else that helps to keep the families together during the treatment process. Jones hopes the community will come out Wednesday to support Gracey and the thousands of others battling childhood cancer.
"If you've ever witnessed the scene of a family having to leave their child at a hospital and go back to where they live because they don't live near a treatment center, that's pretty gut-wrenching and you don't want to see that again," said Jones
Gracey will be at the Jacksonville Beach location when the store opens Wednesday at noon. Everyone is encouraged to stop by and meet the 17-year-old, hear her story and, of course, enjoy a delicious treat made by Gracey.