UPDATE 8/14/2012: According to organizer  Sue Bowman, registration for the first “Lemon Aid” Golf Tournament scheduled for September 9 has been slow. Anyone interested in participating is asked to contact her at bowman@townofwindsorct.com or by phone 860-930-2029.

Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb

Union Street Tavern at 20 Union Street in historic Windsor Center, Connecticut will host the 6th annual Tavern Trot on September 16.

Early registration is underway for the 6th Annual Tavern Trot, a 3.5 mile road and trail race through the center of historic Windsor, Connecticut. Hosted by the Union Street Tavern at 20 Union Street, the race on September 16 welcomes runners and walkers and is a USATF certified qualifier for the Manchester Road Race. Same day registration will be held from 11:00 a.m to 12 noon. Start time for the race in 12:30 p.m.

Whether as a participant or an observer, the Tavern Trot is a delightful way to spend a late summer weekend. There will be free refreshments, beer and food and live entertainment. A water and rest stop is available along the route; awards will be presented after the race.

And, it is for a good cause – proceeds will benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. A national charity established to fight pediatric cancer, ALSF has a local connection to Windsor, the town where the parents of the founder, Alexandra “Alex” Scott, grew up. Young Alex (1996-2004) lost her battle with cancer but her parents, Jay and Liz Scott, have dedicated themselves to carrying on the effort their daughter began with a simple little lemonade stand outside their Connecticut home. The family subsequently moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to more specialized treatment for Alex, where her determination to raise money to help other children afflicted with the disease was continued.

According to the ALSF website, to date the foundation has raised $55 million and funded 250 research projects at more than seventy institutions. The foundation has also established programs to help families struggling with childhood cancer, including the Travel Fund and an annual Educational Symposium.

Unquestionably their success is thanks to the good people who organize and turn out for events such as the Tavern Trot. Among them is Windsor resident Ann Walsh who has been on board as a volunteer for the charity since the beginning. She knew Alex and still becomes emotional at the mention of her name. As with the Tavern Trot, Walsh plays an instrumental role in many of the fundraisers held in the Greater Hartford area for the foundation.

Such is the case with the first annual ‘Lemon Aid’ Golf Tournament set for September 9, in Simsbury and organized by Windsor Police Officer Sue Bowman. Believed to be the first golf tournament on behalf of ALSF in the area, it will take place at the beautiful Tower Ridge Country Club at 140 Nod Road. The golf course is located near picturesque Hueblein Tower that sits atop Avon Mountain which has a popular hiking trail.

The Tavern Trot and ‘Lemon Aid’ Golf Tournament will join some other recent events held in Greater Hartford to benefit the foundation. Characteristic of so many of the ALSF events which empower young people to make a difference, over the summer youngsters manned Alex’s Lemonade Stands at Stop & Shop Supermarkets in Windsor and Granby.

At Loomis Chaffee School, a private secondary school in Windsor, student Allison Byrne of West Hartford, started the ALS club. In an essay she explained the club’s goal is to “raise money and awareness for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.” Byrne was helped by Jordan Niezelski of Manchester, faculty member Tricia Chambers, Alexandra Smith of Glastonbury and Mark Crawford of Mystic.

Allison Byrne, Mark Crawford and Alexandra Smith at the Loomis Chaffee “Lemon Ball” in Windsor, CT

While a chill was still in the New England air last winter, Byrne & company started their fundraising by selling hot chocolate, lemonade and cupcakes at a boy’s Varsity Hockey game. In the spring, complete with a formal dinner and dance, the group tackled the ambitious task of putting on “it’s own version of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation ‘Lemon Ball’ which occurs annually in Philadelphia, PA.”

“With the help of Loomis Chaffee’s Student Activities, the ALS club brought in an acting company from New York to put on a ‘murder mystery’ ” Byrne noted.

Jordan Niezelski and Allison Bryne.

In addition, the club held lemonade stands throughout the spring. In total, the Loomis Chaffee ALS club raised approximately $2,000. which was donated to ALSF.

(Writer’s note: look for photos from the Tavern Trot and ‘Lemon Aid’ Golf Tournament on a future newsandviewsjb)