COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Lemonade stands will be out in force Saturday for Lemonade Day, a national event during which several Kootenai County youngsters will explore entrepreneurship and develop leadership skills.
Two local little ones will also make a foray into the world of philanthropy while celebrating the memory of a sister and friend gone too soon.
McKenzie McMurray, 9, and Jaxon Lupton, 5, will dedicate a portion of J & K Lemonade sales to Make-A-Wish Idaho in honor of Jaxon's sister, Jaicey Lupton, who was 8 when she died from an undiagnosed terminal illness Sept. 1, 2023.
"She misses Jaicey," said McKenzie's mom, Jessica McMurray, on Wednesday. "She knows this would make Jaicey happy."
"I'm excited," McKenzie said.
The McMurray and Lupton families became friends when the McMurrays moved to North Idaho from Arizona in 2022.
"McKenzie was friends with Jaicey," McMurray said. "They went to the same school."
She said McKenzie was always excited when she got to spend time with Jaicey during the school day.
"They really formed a really close bond and became little best friends," McMurray said.
Jaicey was a Make-A-Wish kid early in her life after a lump was found in her arm and she began to experience aneurysms throughout her body. Her dream was for a unicorn-themed bedroom, a slide bed and a place for her to do her art projects. Five years ago, Make-A-Wish volunteers transformed her bedroom into a colorful unicorn paradise.
"We’re always so happy when wish families decide to pay it forward through an event like this," said Michelle John, regional manager for Make-A-Wish Idaho. "It really makes the wishes extra special."
To read the full story and find the full list of lemonade stands, visit our news partners, The Coeur d'Alene Press.
