Martelli Sisters Kick Off 14th Year of the Lemonettes August 2

By Melissa Moore-Randall

There are many staples of summer in Revere. One of the most popular is the Lemonettes hosted each August by sisters Jordan and Kayla Martelli. Every summer since they were kids, Jordan, a 2025 graduate of Revere High School and incoming freshman at Merrimack College, and Kayla, a senior Nursing student at Merrimack College, would create a summer bucket list. This list included many things that they wanted to do over their summer break. Fourteen years ago, they decided to hold a lemonade stand and donate the earnings to charity.

The charity they selected was Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which raises money to fund childhood cancer research. According to the sisters, Alexandra “Alex” Scott, the founder of the foundation, was a strong-willed girl who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, at a year old. Alex held an annual lemonade stand, where the money she raised went to childhood cancer research. By the time of her death in 2004, she had raised one million. Alex’s story inspired the sisters, and ever since they have helped her cause. The summer of 2012 is when they held their first lemonade stand as the Lemonettes. Over the years, they have raised nearly $70k for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and their annual stand has been a staple in the Revere community where everyone comes together for a great cause. The girls consider the Lemonettes the highlight of their year as they enjoy seeing everyone they love to come and support their mission.

“Being part of this lemonade stand has truly helped me discover my passion for giving back. Each summer, seeing the Revere community come together to support this cause reminds me of the impact we’ve made—and it’s a feeling like no other. This sense of purpose continues to shape my future, as I work toward a career in nursing with a focus on pediatric oncology. Whether someone donates $1 or $100, every contribution makes a difference. Jordan and I continue to fundraise for childhood cancer research because we believe every child deserves a chance at a healthy future, and we want to be a part of the solution. I’m excited to see what this year has in store as we approach an incredible milestone: $70,000 donated to the foundation!” said Kayla.

Jordan added, “When Kayla and I started the lemonade stand, I was only five years old. At the time, I didn’t know the true impact of what we were doing, I just knew I had fun doing it. Now, at 18, this stand has been a huge part of my life, it is the thing I am most proud of. Growing up, I was at Boston Children’s Hospital frequently for my own health reasons; I saw firsthand different kids facing their own challenging battles. Making even the smallest difference in the lives of children battling cancer is something I hold dear to my heart. I would also like to thank our community for believing in our mission and supporting us every year. It’s an honor to support these brave kids and their families, one cup at a time.”

The sisters further added, “This is a great cause, and we are forever grateful for the opportunity to support the foundation, and for the support of our community.”

Jordan and Kayla will host their fundraiser on August 2 from 2:00-4:00 at 39 Dale St., Revere.