Fundraising lemonade stand becoming annual tradition for Kingston family

The stand is in memory of Declyn Carman who died at 3 months from a congenital heart defect.

The most highly-anticipated fundraising lemonade stand in Kingston is coming up this weekend.

The Carman family are holding their 4th annual Mending Hearts with Declyn Lemonade Stand.

It is in honour of Declyn Carman who was three months old when he died of a congenital heart defect called atrioventricular septal defect in January 2022.

Declyn's mother, Amanda McArthur, says they wanted to help raise awareness about this disease.

The idea of holding a lemonade stand was the idea of McArthur's other children, son Ryder and daughter Jordyn. A little more than eight months after the passing of their younger brother, Ryder and Jordyn along with their friend Grady opened their first lemonade stand and raised money for the University Hospital Kingston Foundation. 

In the three years since the lemonade stand first opened, it has raised $20,000 for pediatric cardiology at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

McArthur says she is speechless at how popular the lemonade stand has become.

This year's lemonade stand goes this Saturday outside their home at 1018 Old Colony Road east of Bayridge from 8:30 am to 3 pm. In addition to the lemonade, there will be snow cones, baked goods, granola bars and fruit for sale.

McArthur says the lemonade stand is becoming an annual tradition not only in her neighbourhood but across the city.

Those who can't make it on Saturday but want to help can make a donation on the family’s Canada Helps fundraising page. 

Story by Ken Hashizume