ROWLEY - When word got around the Pine Grove School that one of its preschoolers, 5-year-old Ethan Lent, had been diagnosed with leukemia and would spend the next six months at Children's Hospital in Boston for chemotherapy, it didn't take long for a group to mobilize to help.

From organizing car pools for platelet donation trips to the hospital to seeking donations for gas cards, parking passes and the like, to supplying home-cooked meals to the family each day, this group of Rowley citizens has been there.

The group, which calls itself the Ethan Lent Fund Committee, has announced the first of many fundraisers to help the Lent family. The Lents have two other children, a second-grader, Emma, and a 2-year-old named Eliot. An ice cream social will be held at White Farms on Route 1A in Ipswich on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. (raindate is Friday.)

White Farms and Rowley Realty (the event is not affiliated with Pine Grove School or its PTO) are covering all costs, and all profits will go to the Ethan Lent Fund. Children's performer Brian Doser is volunteering to provide musical activities for the children.

The evening promises face painting, a dunk tank, music, pictures with a Spiderman, hot dogs, a lemonade stand (provided by local Girl Scout Troop 617) and of course, ice cream from White Farms. There will be a minimal cost for all activities and food.

White Farms also will unveil its latest flavor, called Superhero Surprise, in honor of Ethan's sister, Emma. The flavor combines vanilla ice cream with a strawberry swirl and chocolate chip chunks and will be available throughout the season. Proceeds from the sale of Superhero Surprise will go to the Ethan Lent fund.

The Ethan Lent Fund Committee is still looking for volunteers to help with the event: If it's a hot night, sitting in the dunk tank could be the best seat in the house; if it's cool outside, selling warm hot dogs could be the place to be. General help is also needed.

Contact Pamela Gay Killeen at Pamela_Shawn@comcast.net to volunteer.