As the old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade - and a little girl in Toronto, Canada has done just that, raising CA$25,000 ($26,621) for her brother's neurological disability.
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Na'ama Uzan, 5, set up a lemonade stand outside her house last year with the hope of raising money to help support a cure for Angelman syndrome - a rare neuro-genetic condition which affects speech and causes frequent seizures. Uzan's 7-year-old brother Nadaz Uzam suffers from the disability.
"He can't talk, so he gets frustrated easily," Na'ama told CTV Toronto.
Money from the sales of stand, which also sells muffins and pastries, will benefit the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics.
"It's going to make a cure," Uzan said. "I'm doing it because I want to support a cure for Angelman syndrome."
Her efforts have inspired others to take up the cause and get active. In California, David Low and his partner Steve have raised more than CA$20,000 ($21,296) after hearing about Uzan's lemonade stand. Their son was diagnosed with Angelman six months ago.
"The technology and therapies will be there to help these individuals and the only way that hope is going to be fulfilled is through the efforts like people like Na'ama and her family who inspire others to give," Low told CTV Toronto.
They plan to use the money raised to set up a research grant in Uzan's name - which left the chatty 5-year-old girl speechless.
"We don't get this every day where a complete stranger is inspired by your child and raises over $20,000 in her honour," said her mother, Ru Uzan.
- nzherald.co.nz