The damp weather didn’t stop North York twins Dara and Joe Birnboim from serving up lemonade to thirsty customers at Bay and Bloor streets July 23 in support of The Hospital for Sick Children.
The siblings raised $204.06 for Sunkist’s Take a Stand program, which enables youngsters to support a charity of their choice by selling freshly squeezed Sunkist lemonade.
The twins chose the therapeutic clown program at Sick Kids in honour of family friend Adam Prusznowski, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993 and died at age eight.
When Adam was ill, a therapeutic clown would visit with him and other patients at the children’s hospital to lift their spirits through laughter.
After his death, Adam’s Dream Fund was established, enabling some 10,000 therapeutic clown visits to seriously ill and injured patients annually.
Sunkist matched Dara and Joe’s fundraising tally, bringing in a total of $408.12 to The Hospital for Sick Children.
“We knew Adam’s family,” said Dara and Joe’s mom, Marla Ash. “We had another lemonade fundraiser at our house at the beginning of June and raised $540. We had another lemonade stand last year as well.”
Setting up their stand in front of Indigo Books & Music the twins, taking the day off camp, drew lots of attention as they helped quench thirst for charity, Ash said.
“A lemonade stand is something we can all relate to,” she said. “They are turning it into helping others and learning about giving.”
Dara said she’s already looking forward to next year’s lemonade fundraiser.
“It’s really fun,” she said. “I liked handing out the cups and walking around the store.”