Winnipeg sisters more than double fundraiser goal for CancerCare Manitoba

Two Winnipeg sisters have more than doubled their fundraising goal after turning a simple lemonade stand into a big success.

Erika, 12, and Carly, 8, set up a lemonade stand at the RBC Convention Centre on Thursday, where they sold handmade, crocheted positive potatoes and handed out free lemonade and snacks, with all funds being donated to CancerCare Manitoba. 

Turning loss into hope

“We had a close relative that died from cancer,” said Erika. “The year after that, we did our first lemonade stand to support and raise money for other people with cancer to hopefully be able to cure cancer. Since then, we’ve been doing it every single year.”

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the sisters set up on the second floor of the RBC Convention Centre near the skywalk and were busy the entire time.

“It feels great to just see it helping,” said Erika. “And when we go to CancerCare and just give them the money, and they count it up, it feels great.”

More than doubling their goal

The goal was to raise $2,000. In the end, the girls raised $4,017.97.

Donations can still be made online here.

Since starting the fundraiser three years ago, the sisters have raised more than $9,000 for CancerCare Manitoba.

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Part of a province-wide effort

The sisters’ fundraiser was part of Lemonade Stands for Hope, a CancerCare Manitoba Foundation program that encourages young Manitobans to hold their own lemonade stands and raise money for cancer research and patient care in the province.

From July 17 to 19, lemonade stands will be set up across Manitoba as part of the community-wide fundraising effort.

All money raised through the stands stays in Manitoba to support local cancer research and patient care at CancerCare Manitoba.

“Lemonade Stands for Hope shows young people that they have the power to make a meaningful difference in their communities,” said Laura Curtis, director of marketing communications with CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. “Every stand represents hope for Manitobans affected by cancer.”

Manitobans can find a lemonade stand near them this summer or register their own stand through Lemonadeforhope.ca.