Kids raise thousands of dollars for cancer research in remembrance of their friend who lost her battle with cancer

(ABC 6 News) – At Oronoco’s Gold Rush days, a stand ran by local children are making a huge difference. Sweet treats and cold drinks are sold at Gabby’s Stand, with all of the funds being donated to childhood cancer research, in remembrance of their friend Gabby.

Gabby Brown, a girl from Harmony, Minn., was diagnosed with leukemia when she was a baby. After almost a year of battling the disease, Gabby passed away when she was 2-years-old.

While she was only around for a short time, she had a huge impact on the community, inspiring many kids to keep fighting her battle against childhood cancer.

"Her fight against leukemia really inspired us to do this stand to make sure no other kids suffer from leukemia or any other cancers," said Hayward, one of the kids running Gabby’s Stand.

Six families contribute to Gabby’s Stand, with the children operating it for the entire weekend of Gold Rush Days.

"When she was diagnosed with leukemia, we decided to do the stand for Gold Rush and then two months after she passed away. So we’ve been doing it ever since to help raise money so no other families have to suffer like that," Hayward explained.

Over the past couple of years, Gabby’s Stand has raised over $3,000. The money is donated to organizations such as Brighter Tomorrows, a nonprofit that helps support childhood cancer families.

This weekend, they have raised an additional $2,000. Kids at the stand brew coffee for customers and sell cold drinks and cookies.

For one of the kids, the mission of the stand means a little bit more.

"It’s important to me because I am a survivor of cancer," said Hannah, another manager of Gabby’s Stand.

Hannah was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in several areas of the body, when she was 2-years-old.

Now, 10-years-old and cancer-free, she says she wants to help kids like Gabby and those that are still fighting their own battles.

The kids say they cannot wait to be back next year.