Some 3,500 young hopeful entrepreneurs in Alberta spent Monday preparing to launch a business this weekend. That’s how many youth are registered to run 715 booths for Lemonade Stand Day on Aug. 30, a fundraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “(I’m) really excited,” said fourth-year participant Aria, who said she likes to help the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Funds raised will be put toward new cameras for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in northern Alberta, which enable families to check in on their babies when they can’t be at the hospital. “Parents need to be able to go home and have some time with their family at home, but then they want to stay connected with their babies in the hospital. So these NICU cameras are super important to keep them connected,” said chair Monita Chapman. Albertans will be able to find the nearest lemonade stand on Aug. 30 on the fundraiser’s website. This will be the 13th Lemonade Stand Day. To date, $3.5 million has been raised. “Lemonade Stand Day started with 30 stands. We raised just over $4,000 that first year, and every year we’ve just grown, and it’s actually mind-blowing to watch. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I just can’t believe how much people love it,” Chapman said. “People come back year after year. This is part of their summer traditions.” The organization provides supplies like T-shirts, lemonade mix and cups.
