Lemonade mix, cookies and cups have been stacking up on Starla Chapman's doorstep. The Bay Minette teen and culinary competitor is gearing up to raise money for her nonprofit, Cook Up a Cure, one cup …
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Lemonade mix, cookies and cups have been stacking up on Starla Chapman's doorstep. The Bay Minette teen and culinary competitor is gearing up to raise money for her nonprofit, Cook Up a Cure, one cup of lemonade at a time.
You may remember Chapman from her run on the most recent season of MasterChef Junior, where she made it to the top 10. She was selected from thousands of applicants and spent weeks in California competing in tough culinary challenges at the age of 11.
At 9-years-old, she competed against hundreds of children to be the first IHOP "Kid Head Chef." But before the culinary competitions and network television fame, Chapman captured the region's attention during her battle with acute myeloblastic leukemia in late 2011.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and over the years, Chapman and her family have raised money and awareness for organizations like Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. This year she will do it for her own nonprofit.
Chapman and her mom, DeAndra Chapman, created Cook for a Cure years ago, but they finalized the nonprofit in the last year.
"Me and my mom came up with Cook Up a Cure and we are using the funds to give back to children that have cancer or had cancer. It was something we definitely needed while I was in the hospital," Chapman said.
The Cups for a Cure Lemonade Stand, which falls under the umbrella of Cook Up a Cure, will be popping up at schools and football games all September long.
"We have about five different lemonade stands, not including football games, and we are looking to set up more," Chapman said. "We usually do cookies, regular lemonade and pink lemonade and it is $1 for a cup of lemonade and a cookie."
The fundraising goal is $1,500, which would be a nice start for the nonprofit. The Chapmans are currently in their first wave of fundraising and hope to secure funds for their holiday giving.
"We are planning on giving gifts. We usually give teddy bears to different hospitals around the Baldwin County area," Chapman said.
Chapman's supporters have been instrumental in making the Cups for a Cure Lemonade Stand possible. For weeks, supporters have been purchasing items off an Amazon Wishlist that ship directly to the Chapman home. The donations ensure all the money raised go straight to Cook Up a Cure.
Some Team Starla supporters also donated gold ribbon stickers that the Baldwin County High School, Bay Minette Middle School and Bay Minette city league football teams will wear on their helmets for the month.
Keep an eye out for this Bay Minette teen as she has a lot going on. Chapman also recently became a brand ambassador for Dale's Seasonings and RosaMae Seasonings.
The best way to stay in the know is to join the Team Starla Support Facebook page. Chapman and her mom, who serves as head of her social media keep the page updated with events and information.
