By Glynis Hart
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CLAREMONT — Seven-year-old Kallie Allen, according to her mother, is a funny, lovable kid who loves music, dancing, animals and dinosaurs.
“She’s all about her big sister, Ava,” said mom Cory Lyn. “Even if she falls and hurts herself, she’ll run to Ava instead of me or her Dad.”
Kallie also has epilepsy. She was diagnosed several years ago.
“She doesn’t really understand the concept of what she’s going through,” said Cory. “She just knows some days she sleeps all day and some days she gets up and plays.”
Although Cory has another family member with epilepsy, “it’s still very surreal when it’s your child,” she said. “We never know what kind of day she’s going to have.”
Although the medication prescribed for Kallie’s seizures “pretty much” controls them, epilepsy meds are famous for being almost worse than the disease. Side effects include episodes of rage, or sleeping all day, or feeling deathly ill.
Cory said she needed support and information, so she reached out to the Epilepsy Foundation. The organization brought Kallie into the Kids Crew and she learned about (and did) the Brave Challenge, an obstacle course designed for people with disabilities. (It can be modified to provide challenges at anyone’s ability level.)
They also let her know about Lemonade for Livy: lemonade stands run by kids to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation. The effort takes place at the end of July, with thousands of lemonade stands across the nation.
Kallie loved the idea. She set a goal of $150 to raise, and a friend loaned the Allens a card table. Cory bought a lot of lemonade at BJ’s.
There was only one problem.
“We live in Hartland, Vermont,” said Cory. “We live on a back road where like four cars would drive by.”
So, the Allens started looking for a place with more traffic. They asked different businesses with no luck.
“Finally someone mentioned Nick (Koloski, co-owner of Time-Out Americana Grill),” said Cory. “He was all about it right away.”
So, Kallie Allen’s Lemonade for Livy stand will be at Time-Out Americana Grill in Claremont this Sunday, Aug. 4, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cory was on a mission to buy purple balloons for the stand, which Kallie has decided are critical.
“She’s super excited, and now she wants balloons for the stand and everything else,” said Cory. “She keeps asking me when is the day.”
Koloski has sweetened the deal: anyone visiting the lemonade stand that day can be entered to win an Escape Room pass for the Escape Factory. If they’re seeking adult beverages they can get $1 off a frozen pina colada at Time-Out.
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