7-Year-Old Raises $10K for Friend's Rare Disease Cure

When seven-year-old Liam Liu learned his best friend Jack Laidlaw needed help, he grabbed some lemons and got to work.

Jack is a nine-year-old Ottawa boy who dreams of walking on Mars someday. But he lives with SPG4, a rare genetic disease that slowly weakens leg muscles and could eventually take away his ability to walk.

The disease affects less than 0.01 percent of people worldwide. Currently, there's no cure or treatment available.

Jack's parents, Anna and Richard Laidlaw, discovered a research team at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School working on gene therapy for SPG4. They partnered with the Blu Genes Foundation, a Canadian charity dedicated to funding the research.

That's where Liam decided to help. For the second year in a row, he set up a lemonade stand to raise money for his friend's cure.

"I'm selling lemonade because my friend Jack has SPG4, and I need to raise money for his cure," Liam explained in a video before the event. "We need your support."

The community answered in a big way. Neighbors stopped by throughout the week. Local celebrities visited. Strangers who saw posts online donated.

By week's end, Liam had raised $10,305, more than double his $5,000 goal. Last year's stand brought in over $3,700, meaning the two lemonade stands together have contributed more than $14,000 to gene therapy research.

Jack still plays hockey and spends time with his two younger brothers, though he can only run for about 10 seconds before needing to walk. His parents describe him as bright, smart, and empathetic.

"What he knows is he has a silly gene that makes his legs tired," Anna said. "He doesn't know the whole weight of progression and paralysis. That's not for a nine-year-old to know right now."

Sunny's Take

The friendship between these two boys shows what's possible when we look out for each other. Liam didn't just feel bad for his friend. He took action, one cup of lemonade at a time.

The Laidlaws initially felt isolated after Jack's diagnosis, but sharing their story changed everything. The community rallied around them with donations, hugs, and simple pats on the back that helped them keep going.

"This is not only a story about friendship, but also a powerful story of unity within a human community," wrote Liam's father, Yan Liu.

Jack's family is the only family in Canada partnered with a charity dedicated to SPG4 research. Every dollar Liam raises brings Jack closer to the cure that could help him achieve his dream of exploring the red planet.

Sometimes changing the world starts with a lemonade stand and a friend who cares enough to make a difference.