Two enterprising eight-year-olds from Collingwood were given lemons, but they've decided to make lemonade.
On June 26, Renée Bérubé and her friend Stella Purdy set up a lemonade stand on Gilpin Cres. to raise money for Sick Kids Hospital, where both have stayed to receive treatment. In the two hours the stand was open, the duo raised $408.
“I feel very happy,” Renée told CollingwoodToday.ca this week. “We got so excited. We just wanted to help all the kids. We wanted to get them newer technology and maybe comfier clothes.”
“When we went there, they have itchy clothes,” she added.
Renée was born with a neurological disorder called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), which can cause widespread inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. At 18 months old, she spent some time at SickKids.
“She’s healthy today,” said Anjay Bérubé, Renée’s mom. “The neurology department has been a big part of our life every year as follow up.”
Renée attends École élémentaire catholique Notre-Dame-de-la-Huronie, while Purdy attends Cameron Street Public School. The friends, who are neighbours, had previously bonded over both having spent some time at SickKids Hospital.
At Sunday’s event, the $408 raised translated to about 80 $1-cups of lemonade sold, while some patrons were extra-generous tippers.
“The whole community came including our neighbours,” said Anjay.
Looking ahead, Renée sees more lemonade in her future.
“We’re thinking later this summer we’d like to do another lemonade stand for the (Georgian Triangle) Humane Society,” said Renée.
