Family’s Lemonade Stand back to raise funds

BY Aprile McKinnon

The Lemonade Stand is back. The annual event has raised thousands of dollars to help support the Garcia family’s very personal fight against childhood cancer.

Canyon Lakers are being invited for a cup of lemonade Sept. 24 at Indian Beach and while there participate in a raffle for not only a chance to win one of the many amazing raffle items, but to help support the cause. Raffle tickets will be $5.00 each.

September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month seems a fitting time for a fundraiser to be put  on by a childhood cancer survivor. Juliana Garcia, a resilient and active fifth-grader, has been battling cancer since her third birthday.

Diagnosed with Wilms tumor stage one, Juliana underwent a grueling four-hour surgery at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to have the tumor and her kidney removed. Following the surgery, she endured six months of chemotherapy and has since been on a rigorous schedule of ultrasounds and x-rays to monitor her remaining kidney.

Juliana also meets with a nephrologist and an oncologist at Rady’s Children’s Hospital for regular check-ups to ensure her continued well-being.

The Garcia family, residents of Canyon Lake for 15 years, includes Juliana’s older brother Gavin, who is 15 years old. Juliana shares a deep bond with her brother and frequently joins him and his friends in various activities, staying active and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Recently, she even ventured into organized sports by joining a recreational soccer team, proving her determination to lead a fulfilling life despite her medical challenges. Despite Juliana’s parents’ concerns with playing soccer while only having one kidney, they decided to allow her to enjoy the sport.

In 2017, the Garcia family initiated a heartwarming tradition of organizing lemonade stands at Indian Beach to support organizations that had helped them during Juliana’s cancer battle. This charitable endeavor continued until 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted their efforts. Juliana’s top record was in 2019 with just over $3,500 collected.

“Last year was for NEGU, which is a foundation that was dear to us as they sent us joy jars when my daughter was fighting,” Juliana’s mother Cara Garcia said. “She would go around the house singing, ‘never ever give up’, which is what NEGU stands for.”

The family has a new organization in mind this year to be the recipient of the funds it raises at the Lemonade Stand. Cara learned about the group during a retreat for mothers of children fighting cancer.

The organization is the Gold Rush Cure, established in 2009 by Sandy and Gary Barker after the loss of their son Christian to a rare form of Leukemia. Christian underwent two bone marrow transplants and received treatment at various hospitals, including CHOC, CHLA, and Seattle, before tragically passing away.

The Barkers founded the Gold Rush Cure to provide customized gifts for children with cancer, focusing on celebrating their courage and strength rather than their illness. They create “Pots of Gold” for these children and their siblings.

Additionally, Sandy advocates for childhood cancer research in Washington, D.C., as childhood cancer receives only four percent of federal funding, despite being the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States.

The Gold Rush Cure has delivered 1,000 “Pots of Gold” and is represented in 129 hospitals nationwide. It operates entirely through volunteer efforts without paying any salaries.

The Garcias are now calling upon the generous community of Canyon Lake to support their fundraising efforts. They are seeking donations for a raffle and currently have raffle baskets from Canyon Lake businesses Dirty Blondes Salon, Lake Lyf, Painting House by House, SoCal Pool Water Recycling, handmade American flag wooden cross by local artisan Tim Hurley, a photo session by Kristen Bright Photography, Brissy Company, SolarGoingUp, and Shalyn Stevens, who does handmade screen printing and will donate a basket.

Donations can be made by reaching out to the family at 951-541-8478 and by showing up at the Lemonade Stand on Sept. 24. Juliana’s remarkable journey and her family’s dedication to raising funds for childhood cancer organizations serve as an inspiration to the community, highlighting the power of love, resilience, and the unity of a tight-knit community against the scourge of childhood cancer.