LAKE ELMO - Like many 6-year-olds, Kyle Tierney thought it would be fun to have a lemonade stand.

But Kyle's business plan comes with a twist - he will use the proceeds to buy toys for cancer patients at Children's Hospital in St. Paul.

Those who would like to support Kyle can find him and his lemonade in the parking lot of Gorman's Restaurant in Lake Elmo between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Kris Tierney said she wasn't surprised her son latched on to the idea of buying toys for other kids.

"He's just a really sweet kid," she said. "He's always so concerned about everybody else, and he knows how to make people feel good."

Of course, Kyle also knows first-hand how much a new toy can mean to a young patient. Since he was diagnosed with a brain tumor four years ago, he has spent much of his life in the hospital.

Recently, his tumor started growing again, prompting his parents to ask him if there was anything he wanted to do before he headed back to the hospital for another surgery Aug. 29. Doctors hope to remove enough of the tumor, located near Kyle's brain stem, to allow for another round of radiation treatments.

"Kyle said that he wanted to do a garage sale and have a lemonade stand, so that's what we're doing," his mother said Wednesday evening. "He's so innocent, I don't think he understood everything else he could possibly do. But tonight he was riding his little Jeep through the neighborhood and putting flyers in mailboxes; I know he's really excited about it."

It didn't take long for Kyle's cousin Anna Brozak, who works at Gorman's Restaurant, to hear of the idea. She mentioned it to Ed Gorman - whose son Jason is a lifelong friend of Kyle's father, Rick Tierney - and offered to help in any way he could.

"Rick and Kris are just remarkable people, and what they've dealt with is every parent's nightmare," Gorman said. "When I heard Kyle wanted to have a lemonade stand, I wanted to make sure he would have everything he needed to make it happen."

The restaurant will contribute lemonade, other supplies and, of course, a high-visibility spot just off of Highway 5, which Gorman said carries 18,000-20,000 cars a day.

Tierney said the gesture is just one more example of the support she and her family have received since Kyle was diagnosed with ependynoma in 2003.

"We've had such incredible support from family, friends and the whole community," said the West Lakeland Township resident. "A lot of people have made sure that we know that they're there for us, if we need them. That's been a huge part of what's given us the strength to cope as well as we have with everything."

Gorman said the way the Tierneys have handled their son's illness has been an inspiration to him.

"It is just so like them to take the proceeds and use them to buy toys for cancer patients at the hospital," he said. "They've been on a real roller coaster these past few years, but they're not a 'Poor Me' family. They're the furthest thing from it."

Whether Kyle gets his attitude from his parents or it's the other way around, they're clearly related.

"Kyle amazes me," his mother said. "He never complains about anything hurting, he's always up for a new adventure and he knows how to charm everybody he encounters. He always thinks about other people, and I know he's really looking forward to picking out some new toys for the kids in the hospital."

Kyle and his family will sell lemonade in the parking lot of Gorman's Restaurant, 11011 Stillwater Blvd. N., between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. To learn more about Kyle, visit www.kyletierney.com.