Grey Chapin started the Purple Lemonade Stand at age six after her sister, Blair, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome. Sanfilippo Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that slowly takes away the ability to walk, talk, and care for oneself, with a life expectancy in the teens.
The goal of the Purple Lemonade Stand is to raise money and awareness to fund treatment or a cure for Sanfilippo Syndrome. It started with purple lemonade and baked goods in the front yard and grew into a bigger event with merchandise, artwork, and special guests. The Orlando community has supported these efforts over the years through donations and volunteer efforts.
On April 4th, 2017, Blair passed away. This fundraiser is now in her memory and Grey hopes that one day, when a cure is found, no family will have to go through what they did.
April 2020 would have been the tenth anniversary of the Purple Lemonade Stand, but due to the Coronavirus, the event was cancelled. With the help of Grey's Students Stand for Courage club at Lake Highland, we are excited to host the first ever Drive-Thru Purple Lemonade Stand on October 21st.