This lemonade packs a punch

Caroline George endured the summer's hottest days outside selling refreshing lemonade and water to passers-by near the Martinez Post Office.

The 11-year-old Evans girl isn't spending two weeks in the heat selling cool refreshment for fun or money to buy dolls or ballet slippers, though.

"She's trying to raise money for boxing equipment," said her father, Steve George. "She needs like $250."

Caroline, a rising fifth-grader at Evans Elementary School, put her lemonade stand up July 17 on Commercial Boulevard in front of her father's business, Professional Carpet Systems, near the post office.

Caroline said she started boxing at Augusta Boxing Club six months ago, about a month after her sister Molly, 15, began training there.

The girls work out two nights a week at the club, which provides equipment. The girls want to buy equipment to work out with each other at home.

They hope to raise enough to buy two sets of gloves and headgear, mouth guards, hand wraps and a set of practice mitts.

Caroline has spent about six hours a day at the lemonade stand, with Molly's help when she's not baby-sitting, all week. They plan to keep selling their refreshments at least through Friday and possibly longer.

The girls' mother, Rita, said that as of Friday they had raised about $200.

Molly, a rising ninth-grader at Evans High School, said she discovered boxing by accident. She was part of a health program through the Medical College of Georgia for girls to lose weight and stay active. The group toured athletic venues such as the Augusta Aquatics Center and The Ice Forum.

"They took us to Augusta Boxing Club," Molly said. "I was like, 'Whoa!' I was all psyched up about it."

Despite their reservations, her parents signed Molly up for boxing.

The next thing they knew, Caroline wanted to join her sister as a training boxer.

"She talked me into it," Caroline said.

The girls are in the intermediate class under the direction of professional boxer Rayonta Whitfield, who also trains at the club. They train Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

"They work hard, and they are coming along in my program pretty good," Whitfield said. He said he believes that both girls have what it takes to do well in boxing.

Caroline said she enjoys boxing, but acknowledges that it is difficult to stand in the heat all day and then work out at night.

Matthew George, the girls' older brother, said boxing is more their style than clogging or ballet, which they previously pursued.

Caroline said she wants to see how far she can go in boxing.

"I want to continue, get a scholarship for boxing," she said.