9-year-old to set up lemonade stand to raise cancer funds

BY Dawn Rankins

Nine-year-old Juliana Garcia is at it again.

JULIANA GARCIA. Photo by Cara Garcia

Juliana, along with the help of her parents and sponsors she recruited, are opening their fourth lemonade stand for a few hours on Sept. 24 from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Indian Beach. The funds raised will help raise money for kids with cancer and the organizations that help them and their families during some very difficult times.

Cancer and the toll it takes on families is no stranger to the Garcia family. Just after Juliana turned three, a lump was found in her stomach. Four days after receiving the news, little Juliana was taken into surgery at Children‘s Hospital Los Angeles. The tumor was on her left kidney and weighed over a pound.

After the surgery, Juliana went through six months of chemotherapy. She wasn’t alone, though. Her parents were constantly by her side. Her big brother stayed with other family and friends while Juliana had her treatments.

The treatments caused Juliana to become very weak and to lose her hair. Because of her weak immune system, the family had to pretty much stay away from others in an effort to keep their little girl safe from outside germs.

Cara Garcia, Juliana’s mom, said that through the process, Juliana was the stronger one.

The Garcias at the last Lemonade Stand prior to the pandemic. They will be setting it up again on Sept. 24 in Indian Beach to raise funds for kids with cancer organizations. Photo by Cara Garcia

“When you receive a diagnosis like this, and you complete the treatments, you never really are over the anxiety when it comes to follow ups,” Cara said. “The check ups don’t get easier, the anxiety surrounding scans was hard, and the what ifs set in. We as a family have learned to be present and live in the moment. Our daughter is amazing at seeing the positive in every situation.”

The support and friendships the family has made along the way is amazing, Cara said.

“My children have had to go through something that forever changed them,” she said. Giving back to organizations who have helped us with this lemonade stand is one easy way to turn the horrible diagnosis into something positive.”

The lemonade stand at Indian Beach is an annual event.

“The Canyon Lake community outdoes itself each year we’ve done the fundraiser,” Cara said. “My family and I are so thankful for this community and how they’ve embraced my children and the donations they’ve made to help kiddos from all over who are fighting this deadly disease.”

Even before the lemonade stand is set up, Cara said that because of the support she’s already received from the community and the sponsors she is confident they will be able to donate much to NEGU.

“The lemonade stand is so important to Juliana,” Cara said.

“I want to do the lemonade stand because it is fun and we get to help kids that are really sick,” Juliana said. “I missed doing this during COVID-19, so I’m glad we can do it again this year.”

Juliana said if she could say just one thing to kids fighting cancer it would be she hopes they get through it like she did, and that they can get to go home and be with their family and friends.

“I will keep fighting with you by helping organizations that helped my family,” Juliana said. “NEGU used to send me joy jars with lots of fun things in them. My brother got them too because he was a super sib.”

The support the family has received for the lemonade stand has been overwhelming. Cara said after just a few minutes of posting the lemonade stand event again for this year, she had an outpouring of support and sponsors for the event.

“I would like to thank the people in Canyon Lake for always helping me raise so much money,” Juliana said. “I hope everybody will come again this year.”