Raising money for epilepsy research one squeeze at a time
Seven-year-old Jack Yeilding is a SickKids ambassador. With the help of friends and family, he has raised over $150,000 dollars for the hospital.
Diagnosed with intractible epilepsy – seizures that cannot be controlled through medication – Jack began selling lemonade in front of his home in 2007 to raise funds for epilepsy research. His neighbours joined in and ‘Jack’s Lemonade’ became an annual fund-raising street party. The event has now grown so large it takes place in a local park in Oakville, Ontario where Jack and his family live.Children in the area pre-register to participate in the day, which includes pony rides, bouncy castles, mascots, fire engines, lots of food, and a petting zoo.
To find out more about Jack’s journey with epilepsy, and this year’s fund-raiser, you can visit his website at www.jackslemonade.com.
You can also view our series of videos featuring an overview of epilepsy treatments and the "Magic Diet" on the following pages: