CALGARY – Hundreds of people lined the streets of High River Saturday for the 57th annual Little Britches Parade.
But perhaps the most inspirational story from the parade wasn’t about the participants, but one little boy watching the parade go by who recently lost his mother to cancer.
Tate Barton runs a juice stand along the Little Britches Parade route. His mom had breast cancer. Jill Barton died when her son was just five years old.
The seven year old came up with the idea to raise money for the High River Cancer Clinic where his mom went for her chemotherapy.
“I wanted to set up a lemonade stand to remember my mom,” Tate said.
A bit of rain certainly didn’t stop the crowds from buying a drink at his lemonade stand.
When asked what the rain did to his lemonade sales he said “just got the cups wet”.
Tate’s dad Jamie Barton says the local cancer clinic made such a difference for their family when Jill was going through treatment.
“It was phenomenal for her to be able to walk or just drive over a block and a half from here and she could get her treatments and come back. On top of that, there’s that small community mentality that went along with it. So when you went in there, you knew everybody, you became friends with them. So it was pretty amazing support and treatment that she received here,” Jamie Barton said.
It was Tate’s second year of operating the lemonade stand. He had a goal of raising a hundred dollars last year. By the end of the day, he brought in $3800.00
“He’s such an amazing child to put his mother and the cause in front of just being a kid. Most kids just want the candy here or to see the parade and he’s here supporting more than just his mother. And it’s really neat to see him be part of the movement and be part of wanting to do better and to help people,” Farol Finlay, a family friend said.
The rain kept falling on the chilly parade day but Tate still managed to squeeze in more lemonade sales.
“Absolutely phenomenal response,” Barton said. “Even on a rainy day, it’s crazy how many people have come out to support this.”
“He was always really strong through the whole thing. So I really admire Tate because he was really strong through the whole process. So if they continue this effort, it will be great for him and for the family and for the cancer center here in High River,” Darcy Finlay, a family friend said.
For the Barton family, this was more than a way for little boy to keep his mom’s memory alive.
“Jill wanted us to continue on a legacy of giving to the community that gave so much to us and is still giving so much to us. This is just a great opportunity for us to help support the cancer clinic and also the community itself that has provided us with so much love,” Jamie Barton said.
The High River Community Cancer Centre operates in the High River Hospital as a satellite to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary.
They are currently raising money to support the expansion of the centre.
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