When life gave a young Maple Ridge boy lemons he decided to make lemonade to help his best buddy undergo an expensive operation.
Seven-year-old Quinn Callander’s friend Brayden Grozdanich has cerebral palsy. When Quinn saw the tough exercises Brayden had to regularly endure he decided to help.
“After I watched one of his physiotherapy things and I saw how hard it was for him, I asked my mommy and daddy if I could build a lemonade stand to raise money,” Callander told CTV News.
Brayden’s parents were preparing to take out a loan to pay for a procedure in New Jersey that is less-invasive than what is available in Canada. The operation to help lessen Brayden’s suffering costs $15,000 not including travel expenses and ongoing physiotherapy.
As Brayden grows, his muscles tighten because of his cerebral palsy and simple activities are extremely difficult.
“He gets very frustrated because he’ll try to do something, and he’ll get mad at himself because he’ll fall,” said Brayden’s mother Toni Grozdanich. “Like when he gets tired he’ll trip a lot easier because his legs just sort of drags behind him.”
Along with profits from the lemonade stand, Quinn’s mother Heather Roney set up an online campaign which has already surpassed its goals, raising more than $23,000.
Donations came from friends and unknown supporters across Canada and the United States leaving Brayden’s mother speechless.
“There are no words,” Roney said. “It’s unbelievable. It’s just unbelievable.”
Brayden said he is looking forward to the results of the upcoming operation.
“It will help me walk,” he said with excitement.
Brayden is scheduled to undergo surgery in August.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Michele Brunoro
