By Danielle Kutchel
Residents in need of refreshment this month can quench their thirst whilst chipping in for a good cause by stopping by Lochie’s Lemonade Stand.
Seven-year-old Lochie will be hosting the old-fashioned fundraiser outside his house on Evelyne Street on Saturday 27 March, from 10am til 3pm.
He’ll be fully stocked with cups of his version of homemade lemonade – his favourite drink – for $1, as well as bags of mixed lollies, also for $1, for a sweet treat.
Lochie plans to donate some of the proceeds to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he is a patient.
Lochie was born with symbrachydactyly, which means he is missing a finger.
He currently sees an occupational therapist at the hospital once a quarter, and the surgeon yearly – and his visits prompted him to think about the other children in need.
“We see people who are so worse off than what we are and it makes us realise how lucky we are,” Lochie’s mum Clare said.
Lochie decided he wanted to help the hospital after watching a YouTube clip of a child holding a lemonade stall fundraiser, and quickly decided he wanted to do the same.
But he’s hoping to kick it up a notch, with a little help from friends and the wider Cranbourne community.
Local businesses have jumped on board to help, donating items to put into a raffle, the entire proceeds of which will go to the hospital.
Nine-year-old Isabel Tarallo has made up a hamper of gifts from her mother’s business, Sealed with a Gift, worth $75, to donate; MarShere Dance Studio has donated $750 worth of vouchers; Forever Grazing and Mini Eats to You have contributed grazing boxes; Paint a Pot will supply a gift; a local personal trainer has donated two weeks of free fitness classes; Handmade by Helen J has donated two large heatpacks valued at $30; local Tupperware seller Tara has contributed some items; Little Fawn Home-Made Gifts has donated some Easter bows and colour-your-own t-shirts; Grace Cosmetics is contributing a trial pack; Lorraine Lea Linen will contribute a voucher; and Lara’s Gift Packs will donate icy pole holders.
Clare expects more businesses to contribute to the raffle as the day gets closer.
Raffle tickets will be available prior to the day and will be sold up until 2.45pm on the day of the lemonade stand, with the prizes being drawn at 3pm.
La-Dash Handmade Candles is running a bingo-style fundraiser to support Lochie’s cause too, where visitors to the business’ Facebook page can pick a number and be in with a chance to win special prizes, with half of the proceeds going directly to the Royal Children’s.
There will also be children’s entertainment on the day to add to the fun.
Clare and Lochie hope that the proceeds from the fundraiser will help other hospital patients feel better.
“I’m doing this to help sick kids,” Lochie said.
To find out more about the fundraiser, or to donate items to the raffle, visit Loch’s Lemonade Stand on Facebook.
