Parksville friends Riley, Nathan, Noah and Blake are not yet teenagers. But they are already entrepreneurs and philanthropists. And entertainers.
The quartet, supported by a revolving cast of volunteer friends, have operated a lemonade stand in front of their apartment complex at 451 Morison Ave. in Parksville every weekend since early July. Inspired by a classmate at Springwood Elementary School who is undergoing cancer treatment, they are trying to raise $1,000, with half of the proceeds going to B.C. Children’s Hospital.
As of Sunday, Aug. 13, the group had reached nearly $850, with two weekends remaining in their campaign.
“They’ve been out there every weekend, sometimes for eight hours,” said Debbie, the mother of Riley and Nathan. She requested the family’s last name be withheld.
The are joined by partners and neighbours Noah and Blake Nelson at their stand, a folding table set up on the grass, just off the sidewalk running in front of their apartments on Morison. Various other friends and family members come and go on an as-available basis to help out at the stand, which is typically open each Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Riley originally approached another friend about setting up a lemonade stand on a one-time basis following Canada Day. When Noah Nelson got word of the plan, he suggested it be used to raise money for B.C. Children’s Hospital, “because my friend is there,” he said.
Fellow Springwood student Kaiden Finley, 9, underwent brain tumour surgery in May at B.C. Children’s and remained for treatment.
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Debbie said she approached the city and the health board to make sure the stand had the proper approvals.
“We wanted to do it right,” she said.
The kids have been selling lemonade and Mr. Freeze pops to motorists and pedestrians who stop by their stand. They have also come up with a short rap about their cause they’re happy to perform whenever the audience is willing.
Kaiden’s lemonade rap
While the group has devoted dozens of hours of labour to the cause, it’s not all work and no play. All four of the boys will travel with their parents to Vancouver Sept. 1 to present a cheque to B.C. Children’s Hospital. Half of the proceeds will be presented to B.C. Children’s Hospital, and the rest will fund a trip for the group to Cultus Lake Adventure Park as a reward on the final week before they return to school.
