Photo: (left to right) Nayvi-Raine, Kaydia-Lee, Beck-Lyn and Keith (McMann), presenting a cheque to the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation in Edmonton on Aug. 22.

A Stettler family has turned a simple garage clean-out into an annual fundraising tradition that supports one of Alberta’s busiest children’s hospitals.

The event, now in its second year, grew from one grandfather’s plan to donate proceeds from a garage sale into a community-wide fundraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. The motivation comes from a deeply personal place: his granddaughter Nayvi-Raine was born at just 26 weeks, weighing one pound, 11 ounces. She spent 84 days in the Stollery’s neonatal intensive care unit, and in her four and a half years has required ongoing care from nearly every specialty team at the hospital.

Nayvi has faced conditions ranging from chronic lung disease and epilepsy to hearing loss, sleep apnea and multiple surgeries. Her family says the Stollery’s staff have consistently provided not only world-class medical care but also compassion, respect and child-centred support. Those experiences also inspired her mother to return to school to study nursing.

This year’s garage sale was bolstered by help from local businesses and family members. Hiway 9 Express provided warehouse space, Melanie from Alix contributed a Sno-Kone machine, Warren at Stettler Home Hardware donated syrups, and Byron Hoggs offered tables. The girls’ great-grandmother, Keith’s mother, was a huge help in year one, staying for the full two days, and in year two contributed through a large donation when she was unable to attend. Together, the support helped raise $2,142.50—surpassing the original $2,000 goal.

The next generation also joined the effort. Granddaughters Kaydia-Lee, 10, Beck-Lyn, 7, and Nayvi-Raine, 4, ran a lemonade stand, adding to the fundraising total. Each says they are proud to help children and families who rely on the Stollery. They also see themselves as part of something bigger, pointing out that even small contributions—from donating toys or buying a glass of lemonade—can make a difference.

Kaydia-Lee said she feels proud knowing the fundraiser helps build a new Stollery that will make the hospital feel safe and less scary for children, while Beck-Lyn added that raising money makes her proud because it helps both kids and their parents. For four-year-old Nayvi-Raine, the highlight was simple: giving money and lemonade makes her happy to help.

Keith and his wife Tara also contributed by creating a handmade lemonade stand and bracelet tower, topped with a Stollery bear, to sell handmade bracelets. Tara played an important role in setting up, supervising and packing up the event.

Plans for next year include expanding the garage sale into a family-friendly community event with a bouncy house, dunk tank and face painting. The family has set a new fundraising goal of $2,500.

The Stollery Children’s Hospital, located in Edmonton, is one of only two dedicated children’s hospitals in Alberta. Since opening in 2001, it has become a hub for specialized pediatric care, including open-heart surgery, organ transplants and neonatal intensive care. The Stollery also supports families from across Western Canada through research, family-centred programs and partnerships with community initiatives.

One of the hospital’s most popular fundraisers, Lemonade Stand Day, has grown into a province-wide tradition. Organized each August, it now features more than 650 stands across Alberta and has raised over $2.5 million since 2014. Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward purchasing caregiver cots, giving parents the option to stay overnight with their children at the hospital.

For families like the McManns, the Stollery’s impact is personal and lasting. What began as one man’s idea to clear out his garage has become a symbol of community generosity, hope and gratitude—proof that small efforts, when combined, can create a big difference.

In Kistie’s own words:

“Nayvi-Raine was born at 26 weeks gestation and spent 84 days in the Stollery NICU. In her 4.5 years of life, I feel like she has met with nearly every type of specialist at the Stollery—from cardiologists for her PDA and murmur, pulmonologists for chronic lung disease, endocrinologists for ovarian cysts and precocious puberty, the AERO Digestive Clinic for severe reflux and constipation, speech language pathologists for aspiration concerns, ENT for sleep apnea and progressive hearing loss, to multiple surgeries and scopes to monitor stridor, larynx, and vocal cord damage and scar tissue due to multiple intubations, as well as subglottic stenosis. She has also seen neurologists for epilepsy and hematologists for neutropenia, and with that has had over 40 emergency room visits to the Stollery in the last three years. Child Life specialists have helped create a calming environment around her anxiety with blood work and injections, and I am likely forgetting someone.

So you can say we sure know our way around the Stollery well! No matter the day, time, or situation, we have always been treated beyond amazing by all the staff—from the administrators, porters, nurses, specialists, surgeons, and everyone in between. The Stollery really emphasizes the importance of building that trusting relationship with the children. That has come in the form of calm conversations and snuggles when she was a tiny bean, to rewarding her with surprises when she has a “big job” to do like blood work, IV insertions, or injections now that she is a big girl.

I especially love that they listen to HER concerns and take her requests seriously. On one of our most recent ER visits, we had two of the most amazing nurses. Nayvi is a smart girl and has figured out what colour of IV catheter is the smaller one and gives less discomfort. So when she saw that they brought in two different colours, she very confidently informed them that she only wanted them to use the yellow one because it only gives her a little poke. She bonded well with one of the nurses and requested that she be the one to do the insertion. This was not her primary nurse, but we have had her in the past, and without question they respected Nayvi’s preference.

As a mom, to see your tiny 4-year-old’s requests around her medical care being respected like that is huge. I truly cannot say enough great things about the Stollery. The level of care for not only the kiddos but the parents as well is above and beyond anything we have experienced in the past with other hospitals regarding our girls.”

Ways to Support the Stollery Children’s Hospital

• Visit the Stollery website: stollerykids.com lists active fundraisers, partner businesses, and ways to become a monthly donor.

• Start your own fundraiser: From lemonade stands to holiday events, families and businesses can register creative fundraisers online.

• Support existing events: Attend Lemonade Stand Day, purchase from local fundraisers, or donate to ongoing community campaigns.

• Give in-kind donations: Toys, supplies, or gifts to Child Life programs help make hospital stays less stressful for children.

• Volunteer or give your time: Opportunities are available to contribute directly to hospital programs or family support services.

• Make a direct donation: Even small contributions—whether five cents or five dollars—make a difference for children and families.

Photo 1: Keith McMann at the second annual garage sale located in the Hi-Way 9 warehouse. Photo 2: (left to right) Nayvi-Raine, Kaydia-Lee, Beck-Lyn and Keith present a cheque to the Stollery Foundation in Edmonton on Aug. 22. Photo 3: (left ot right) Kaydia-Lee, Nayvi-Raine and Beck-Lyn at their lemonade stand with the bracelet tower. Photo 4: Keith and Nayvi-Raine at the Stollery Foundation in Edmonton on Aug. 22.