Local boy sets up lemonade stand to raise funds for Kooper Rooks

Autumn Terzopoulos has always known her son was destined for something great. The ten year old was born at 27 weeks, and at 3 years old was in a coma for a week after nearly drowning. Now in the fifth grade at Hartselle Intermediate School, Tex Hanners is working to give back one glass of lemonade at a time.

Hanners has always enjoyed selling lemonade during yard sales or events. Terezopoulos said that he likes to earn the extra money, and always donates at least 10 percent to a charity. This last weekend, Hanners has donated all of the money towards Kooper Rooks and his lymphoma treatments at Saint Jude. “He loves selling. If I have something going on, we sell lemonade. During Depot Days he normally sets up lemonade or hot chocolate,” Terezopoulos said.

This weekend, Hanners has set up a lemonade stand for Kooper. “Tex likes to have a lemonade stand to earn money. Anytime they have the stand they have to give 10 percent to charity, but this time he wanted to give it all. From there it started growing. Tex has been going door to door and he was invited to Pet Depot to sell lemonade,” Terezopoulos said.

After selling for the first weekend, Hanners also spurred a donation drive from local people and businesses. The first donation came from Clif Smith, one of Hanner’s favorite umpires from playing baseball and rec ball. From there, Hanners went door to door in his neighborhood and to local businesses to collect donations. “Something as simple as lemonade has sparked people to donate. One small gesture can spark a lot,” Terezopoulos said.

Hanners said that he enjoys selling and helping out. He has recently started school at Hartselle, and previously attended Danville where Kooper’s father coaches. Terezopoulos said that having been through his own struggles, Kooper’s story inspired Hanners to want to help. His mother says that as an adult, Hanners wants to help people in the legal system or through sales. “I either want to be a sales person or…I don’t know what else,” Hanners said.

Terezopoulos says that Hanners has always grown up seeing the family active in charity work, and that he has gained business experience through her shop, The Wings of Alexcia. Terezopoulos says that they regularly work with charities that support women and children, and that she feels it has helped teach Hanners to do the right thing. “That was just how they were raised,” Terezopoulos said.

 Currently, Hanners has raised around $1,500, and is still working to raise more this weekend at Pet Depot and through more donation drives. Hanners said that he felt you were never too young to help out in the community. “I would say it doesn’t matter your age, you can help anyone else. It is just the right thing to do,” Hanners said.