PRESTON — Dominic Smith wanted to raise money to buy his special needs brother Seth a new bicycle, after seeing him feeling left out while he and his sister were playing one day.

    Preston’s 9-year-old Dominic Smith and 6-year-old Paisley Smith wanted to do the work themselves, according to their mother, Laci Smith.

    In May, they began organization a four-hour fundraiser to sell lemonade. The money raised would buy 11-year-old Seth a stable special needs tricycle. Laci said Seth has autism and Fragile X syndrome, which is a mutation in the X chromosome that inhibits protein production necessary for brain development, which can cause intellectual delays.

    “They’ve been riding bikes since they could ride,” said Laci, whose husband is Jessie Smith. “It’s like a family thing and they really enjoy that. The last two years, Seth has gotten too big to be on his bike.”

    Laci said Seth would ride his bike with training wheels, but the wheels kept breaking.

    “He would just sit and watch the kids ride bikes,” she said.

    After sending out Facebook.com event invitation to between 40 and 50 people and receiving permission from Stokes Market Place to temporarily erect a lemonade stand, Dominic and Paisley — with the help of mom and Seth’s school aide — poured 15 gallons of lemonade and served 1,600 cups on June 2.

    “They were overwhelmed with the response of how many people showed their support,” Laci said. “People came all the way from Brigham City (Utah).”

    Laci said the children received accolades of how proud they were to see children putting their brother’s needs before their own wants.

    “I am proud of them, too,” Laci said.

    The price per cup was listed at 50 cents, but it was evident more was donated.

    The clan had more than $400 to buy their brother a bike.

    Laci said after some disappointment with an online vendor, the family landed a better vendor and a local painter offered to paint the stock blue bike Seth’s favorite color green.

    Seth’s bike arrived in early July, and was painted green. He was able to take it for a spin with his family last week.

    Since Seth has difficulty verbally communicating, Laci said the remainder of the funds raised will go toward the purchase of an iPad. Dominic and Paisley hope the iPad will help Seth to be able to better communicate at home.

    “He’s able to use one at school, he’ll (Seth) have one he can talk back with,” Laci said.

    Laci said the family has a 15-month-old, Riot, who makes the third child in the family with Fragile X syndrome. Dominic, who does not have Fragile X, was teased by students about his older brother’s condition and he made an awareness video, which was posted on YouTube.com. The link to the video is http://youtu.be/XYXFBvnbnQ8.