Brighten Your Day

9-Year-Old Raises $500 Through Lemonade Stand To Help Pay For Her Brother's Heart Surgery

June 13, 2016

A 9-year-old girl in Hobbs, New Mexico has raised more than $500 for her little brother who needs heart surgery in Houston this July.

Credit: Mace Petty

Addison Witulski's grandmother and guardian, Kim Allred, said Addison probably overheard a conversation between family members talking about the funds needed to get her little brother Kaden Witulski to treatment.

"I guess she has overheard me and her grandpa talking about how we're worried about how we're going to get to Houston, Texas, for my grandson's heart surgery," Allred told News West 9. "And she overheard me and decided she was going to go out there and have a lemonade stand and make some drawings and pictures and sell them."

Credit: Mace Petty

That's when Addison and her friends Erika and Emily Borden decided to sell lemonade for .25 to .50 cents a cup and pictures for .25 cents.

"No words, I'm so proud of these nine-year-old little kids," Allred said. "Her and her best friend Erica [Borden] to do this and to just hand me over this money to go instead of wanting to go and buy stuff for themselves. I cannot explain, I can't, there are no words. I'm just, I'm so grateful. She is a sweetheart, I mean this girl, she helps me more than I help her at times."

Credit: Mace Petty

Before Allred knew it, New Mexico State Police Officers were among the many stopping by helping them reach a total of $568.10.

The family turned to social media expressing their gratitude saying, "From the bottom of our hearts, Kaden's family would like to deeply thank each and every person that stopped by! Tears were shed on more than one occasion."