One of Airdrie’s youngest residents plans to celebrate her upcoming seventh birthday by refreshing her neighbours, while supporting kids in need.
To celebrate her birthday, the girl – who requested anonymity – plans to sell lemonade Aug. 17, near the intersection of Main Street and Centre Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. until approximately noon. The funds raised through the lemonade sale will be donated to Alberta Children’s Hospital, to be used for cancer research. She said the recent warm weather inspired her to raise funds by selling lemonade.
“Then, it popped into my head – I need to help kids in need,” she said.
Nancy McPhee, executive director of Stephen’s Backpack Society, is assisting with the organization of the fundraiser.
“So many people want to help, but they just don’t know how to,” she said. “When she came up with this lemonade stand idea, I thought, what an amazing idea, because that’s something kids don’t do anymore.”
According to McPhee, the upcoming fundraiser has grown from a meagre origin. Originally envisioned as a simple juice sale with a homemade stand, a more elaborate lemonade stand has now been acquired. The initiative has also found support among community partners – Avenue Bakery will donate pink lemonade cookies to pair with the classic summer beverage.
The soon-to-be seven year old said she was inspired by Stephen McPhee and his work with Stephen’s Backpack Society, but wanted to give back to the community in a way that was all her own. She said she landed on cancer research as her chosen cause because of the number of people – especially children – affected by the disease.
McPhee said she believes her family’s prioritization of philanthropy – especially Stephen’s example – coupled with the girl’s compassionate nature led to her desire to use her birthday for good. She also indicated the death of her husband – James McPhee, who passed away May 2017 after a 14-year battle with cancer – may have influenced the direction of the fundraiser.
“I think you put all that together and it just has really influenced her to bring out that gifting that was in there all along,” McPhee said.
Ultimately, the girl said the fundraiser is an important way to fulfill her desire to help as many people as she can, with whatever means available to her.
“If you want to help one person, you need to help all of them,” she said.
