Elmhurst Seventh-grader Breaks her Own Fund-raising Record with Annual Hot Chocolate Stand

In only 3 1/2 hours last Saturday, Elmhurst resident Amy Bowles, 12, raised a record $874 toward the fight against lung cancer.

This is her fifth year running a hot chocolate stand at the fountain to raise money for the LUNGevity Foundation, which funds cancer research.

Amy, a seventh-grader at , initially became interested in fund-raising to help her dad, Tom Bowles, who has been fighting lung cancer for almost 12 years. Amy, her mom, Michele, along with her aunt, cousins and friends, are all part of the effort. They have raised thousands of dollars since Amy's first hot chocolate stand five years ago.

She doesn't charge for the hot chocolate. She and her friends simply call out, "Free hot chocolate with any donation," and the money comes rolling in.

The money raised will be donated to the LUNGevity Foundation through its annual fund-raising walk in Naperville.

Michele Bowles, a math teacher at Bryan, is in charge of the walk, which this year is known as Breathe Deep Naperville. The walk will begin at 10 a.m.  Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Naperville Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 500 W. Jackson Ave. Participants must register, and may choose either a ¾-mile or 1 1/2-mile course. There is no registration fee, but organizers suggest a donation of $20 per walker.

For more information on the Lung Cancer Walk and Rally, or to register for the walk, click here.