Our Mission
It is our mission to help find a cure for cancer and to help cancer patients in need by raising funds through various projects associated with Lemon-Aide the Clown.
Since cancer affects not only the body but also the emotions, our products are intended to bring a ray of sunshine to both children and adults who are going through cancer treatments. All money raised will be given to fund these efforts after expenses are paid.
The Lemon-Aide Story
`When Lesa Moser began her chemo treatments for ovarian cancer two of her friends decided to visit her during her first treatment and take a gift to let her know they were thinking of her. They purchased a small clown with bright yellow hair in the hospital gift shop at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, Georgia. On the way up to the treatment room, one of them named him Lemon-Aide because of his bright yellow hair. They told Lesa that he was to accompany her to all of her treatments.
`After she completed the treatments Sharon Herndon (one of the two friends, pictured) asked how Lemon-Aide was doing. She replied that he was fine and that she had decided to pass him along when someone else needed him. Shockingly, a few months later she passed him along to Sharon and Lemon-Aide went with her to all of her treatments for breast cancer. In a few short months, Lemon-Aide was passed to the fourth patient, Karin Kastetter, in Asheville, North Carolina. The friends added a cape to the clown and had the names of each person who had taken him to treatments and the date of their diagnosis put on the cape. One day while waiting for her doctor at Phoebe Putney Cancer Center in Albany, Georgia, Sharon asked her husband if he thought she should market Lemon-Aide and give the money to fight cancer. He thought it was a great idea. After a conversation with Lesa they formed Lemon-Aide's Friends, Inc. a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. After expenses are paid they plan to donate all the money raised from the sale of the Lemon-Aide clowns and other products to fight cancer.
`Lemon-Aide is not just any ordinary clown. Since cancer affects not only the body but also the emotions Lemon-Aide is on a special mission to give love and support to those with cancer as well as to serve as an encourager to help patients maintain a positive mental and emotional attitude.
About Lemon-Aide
Objective:
To find locations to offer myself for adoption by both children and adults who are dealing with cancer in order to provide them with smiling and loving support.
Experiences:
- Presently available for adoption
- 2004 Began a country wide journey across the United States to
- find locations where I can be adopted by other cancer victims or their friends
- 2003 Provided love and support for a friend diagnosed with breast cancer
- 2002 Began my effort to assist cancer patients by providing love and
- support for a friend diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
- Appeared on television and in newspapers to help spread the word that I am available to help cancer patients
Education:
- Graduate of the University of Clowning Anywhere U.S.A.
- Graduate of the School of Difficulty Everywhere U.S.A.
- Certificate in adoption University of the World
Skills:
- Can provide smiling support to persons taking chemotherapy
- Can travel worldwide to show love and compassion
- Can speak the universal language of love
References:
9417 Ottoway Court
Toano, Virginia 23168-9369
Distribution of Funds
Lemon-Aide's Friends Inc. is an all volunteer organization. No one involved with the organization receives any monetary benefit. Profit from products sold and money raised through donations will be used to help find a cure for cancer and to emotionally support those fighting cancer.
Board of Directors
Sharon Herndon, CEO
Mrs. Herndon is a graduate of Mars Hill University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and a Concentration in History. She also graduated from Western Carolina University of The University of North Carolina with a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Certification in Reading. She has taught both first and second grades and has also taught Early Childhood Education at the Community College level. In addition, Mrs. Herndon has set up and successfully operated a bed and breakfast. She has been very active in community activities having served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Moultrie/Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce. During her affiliation with the Chamber, she served as Ambassador, Treasurer, Chairman-elect, Chairman, and Past President. She was selected as Ambassador of the Year for two consecutive years. Additionally, she has been an active member of the Moultrie Federated Guild of The Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs serving as Chairman of the Arts Department for two years. Mrs. Herndon was selected as outstanding new member of the Federated Guild. After moving to Tennessee, Mrs. Herndon served on the Board of Directors of the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Humboldt Downtown Business Association. As a member of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mrs. Herndon has served on several committees. She is a breast cancer survivor and dedicated to helping in the fight against cancer. Mrs. Herndon has been nominated for the Lance Armstrong Spirit of Survivorship Award and for the Women Making Magic Award in Southwest Georgia as well as the Jefferson Award in Tennessee. She now resides in Toano Virginia.
Robert Herndon, Jr., President
Lt. Col. Herndon is a 1992 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Astronautical Engineering. He also graduated from the College of Notre Dame (California) in 1994 with a Masters Degree in Systems Management. In 1996 he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy Undergraduate Pilot Training Program. As a Senior Pilot he has logged over 3,400 flight hours. He has served as Instructor Pilot of the C-5 Galaxy and Evaluator Pilot of the C-21 Learjet. Lt. Col. Herndon graduated in 1998 as the Distinguished Graduate of the Squadron Officers School. He also graduated in 2002 from the Air Command and Staff College and in 2008 from the Air War College. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served as Commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 860, Utah State University. He was reassigned to serve as Deputy Commander of the Northwest Region of the Air Force ROTC program. Presently he serves as President of The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI). He now resides in Williamsburg Virginia.
Robert Herndon, Vice President
Mr. Herndon is a dual career retiree who continues to be active in his post retirement business. He retired from the Defense industry after 33 years. He began working at Newport News Shipbuilding after graduating from High School and remained there for 33 years. During his employment with NNS he worked his way up the ladder to a Department Head position. He also is retired from the U.S. Army after serving for 25 years. He volunteered for the Special Forces and after his initial active duty tour remained in the Reserves for 25 years. During his career he has been able to obtain degrees from three universities. He has a BSBA from Old Dominion University, a MAAOM from Tusculum College and took a Doctorate Program at The George Washington University in Executive Leadership. Presently he resides in Toano Virginia.
Jennifer Herndon, Secretary/Treasurer
Mrs. Herndon is a 1992 graduate Of Mary Washington College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She also graduated in 1994 from San Jose State University with Certification in Secondary Science. Mrs. Herndon taught seventh grade life science at Evans High School in Lubbock, Texas in 1995 and 1996. She was a stay-at-home mom of three children from 1997 to 2009. During that time she was active in both public and private schools serving as President of the PTA, a committee chair of the PTO and also helping to establish a new library for the children’s school. Mrs. Herndon served as a Middle School teacher. She taught Seventh Grade Math and Eighth Grade Literature as well as continuing her job as a Special Education Aide. Currently Mrs Herndon serves as teacher in the Science Department at Poquoson High School in Poquoson Virginia. She was recently selected as Teacher of The Year. She now resides in Williamsburg Virginia.
Advisors
John Thomas Alan Duelge M.D., Medical Advisor
Dr. Duelge is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin and received his Medical Degree from The Medical College of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. He completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at The Milwaukee County Medical Complex in 1982. From 1980-1982 he held a Fellowship in Medical Oncology at The Milwaukee County Medical Complex, Veterans Administration Hospital at Milwaukee. From 1982-1989 Dr. Duelge worked as Medical Oncologist at Wausau Medical Center in Wausau, Wisconsin. From 1989 -1993 he served as Medical Oncologist at The Cancer Treatment Center at Farmington, New Mexico. Since 1993 Dr. Duelge has served as Medical Oncologist at Phoebe Cancer Center in Albany, Georgia. Dr. Duelge was certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1978 followed by Certification in Internal Medicine in 1980 and Medical Oncology in 1983. From 1982 to 1989 Dr. Duelge served as Medical Director of the Wisconsin Division of the American Cancer Society. From 1982 to the Present he has been a member of the Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Duelge served as Chairman of the Cancer Committee of Wausau Hospital Center from 1987-1989. He served from 1989-1992 as Medical Director of the New Mexico Division of the American Cancer Society. From 1989-1992 he served as Medical Director of the National Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society. He has also served as Chairman of the San Juan Regional Medical Center Cancer Committee and Tumor Board and as Medical Director of the Northwest New Mexico Hospice. He served as Chairman of the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Cancer Committee and Tumor Board. Dr. Duelge is currently retired from his position at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Ingrid Mayer M.D., Medical Advisor
Dr. Mayer graduated medical school in 1993 at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Chief Residency in 1998 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she also did her Hematology/ Oncology Fellowship training from 1998 through 2001. During this time, she worked in the laboratory setting with MAPK signaling pathway in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, for which she received an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award.In 2003, Dr. Mayer became an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/ Oncology at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where she completed a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) Program in May 2006. She has obtained intramural support through the Vanderbilt Physician Scientist Development (VPSD) Award Program and a Cancer Center Grant Support (CCSG) Award to identify relevant tumor antigens/targets in breast cancer tumor samples. She has intensively worked in translational projects related to targeted therapies in breast cancer, obtaining a Pilot Project from the Breast Cancer SPORE in 2005. She has also obtained a Breast Cancer Research Foundation & American Association for Cancer Research (BCRF-AACR) Grant for Translational Breast Cancer Research to explore combined endocrine and ErbB inhibition in ER+/HER2+ breast cancers in 2007, a K23 Career Development Award to explore targeted therapies in breast cancer, and is also co-Leader in three of the four research projects of the NCI-funded Vanderbilt Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE; Carlos Arteaga, Director).Dr. Mayer is a key component of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) Breast Cancer Program, where her role is to implement and conduct investigator-initiated, mechanism-based clinical and translational trials in breast cancer, focusing in novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Administratively, she directs the Clinical Core of the VICC Breast Cancer SPORE. She is a member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Breast Committee, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Breast Cancer Panel of Experts, and had served in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Scientific Review Committee for two years.
Dr. Mayer’s educational accomplishments include a Doctor of Medicine from Federal University of Sao Paulo, San Paulo, Brazil, February, 1988-December 1993; University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, Latin American Training Program February-June 1994; Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Affiliated Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois, July 1994-June 1997; Chief Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Affiliated Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois, July-1997-June1998; Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago Affiliated Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois, July 1998-June 2001; and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, September 2004- September 2006.
Charles Mendenhall M.D., Medical Advisor
Dr. Mendenhall currently serves as the Director of Radiation Oncology at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, Georgia. Licensed in the state of Georgia, he became Board Certified in June of 1984. Dr. Mendenhall completed his Residency in Radiation Therapy at The University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida in July 1983. He was awarded the American Cancer Society Regular Clinic Fellowship in June 1981 and is listed in The Best Doctors in America Southeast Region 1996-1997 edition. Dr. Mendenhall has also made numerous presentations dealing with Ewing's Sarcoma and Carcinoma of the cervix. Additionally, he has been featured in nine publications with the Annual Radiation Therapy Clinical Research Seminars and Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia.
Honorary Board of Directors
Chuck Cloud
Mr. Cloud is a graduate of The University of Memphis and he received his Certified Financial Planner Certification from Christian Brothers University. Chuck was employed by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He worked with planned giving and individual charitable planning. Since 1997 he has been employed as a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones Investments. While caring for more than $146,000,000 in assets, Mr. Cloud’s emphasis is retirement planning for individual investors and business owners. He is actively involved in his church, a member of the Rotary Club, a member of the Financial Planning Association and has served on the Board of Directors for the Humboldt, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Fred Craddock
Dr. Craddock served as minister of Cherry Log Christian Church in Cherry Log, Georgia. He is Brandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus, in the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Dr. Craddock is reported in Newsweek magazine as one of America's top preachers..
C. Stratton Hill, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Dr, Hill received his BA degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, his M.D. from The University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, Tennessee, and served a Residency and a Fellowship at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Bellevue Hospital, Cornell Medical College. Dr. Hill founded the Pain Service at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1981. Dr. Hill received the 1995 American Cancer Society Humanitarian Award. He served on the pain management education task force of the CATCHUM Project (Cancer Teaching and Curriculum Enhancement in Undergraduate Medicine).
Eric Mintel
Mr. Mintel is known as one of America's top jazz musicians and has performed at the White House and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Lesa Moser
Mrs. Moser graduated from The Medical University of South Carolina School of Cytotechnology and became a registered Cytotechnologist by The American Society of Clinical Pathologists. While living in Charleston, S.C., Mrs. Moser worked for 13 years screening genital and non-genital cytology for cancerous and precancerous cells. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2002 and completed treatments the same year. Mrs. Moser received the first Lemon-Aide clown in 2002 at her first treatment and was instrumental in the start-up of Lemon-Aide’s Friends.
P. Buckley Moss
While living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia she began to appreciate and to know the deeply religious Amish and Mennonite people. Soon she was incorporating them in her art work. The uniqueness of her work generated by her subject matter won her widespread recognition throughout the world. For many who know her and are familiar with her life, she is “The People's Artist”.
Connie Stevens
In a career that has spanned over thirty years, Connie Stevens has gained worldwide popularity and recognition as a multi-talented performer, producer, and most recently, as a major force in the business world. She has successfully transcended the entertainment gamut from Motion Picture Star, Television Star, Broadway Star, Recording Artist, to the concert stage and then on to develop a successful cosmetic empire.
Hugh B. Ward
Rev. Ward received his B.A. in Biology from Asbury College. He worked in rural churches in Kentucky and Mississippi for a time and joined the US Marines in 1966. Following Boot Camp at Parris Island, Vietnamese Language School and Intelligence School, he served in the Republic of Vietnam from 1968 until 1972. He attended Columbia Theological Seminary and after serving more than thirty years in the ministry he is now retired and resides in Moultrie Georgia.