ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Summertime is the perfect time for lemonade, and Caroline Gallagher's C&C Lemonade Factor was the place to be for it on Saturday.

Back for its 9th year, the lemonade stand raises money for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to end childhood cancer.

When Caroline was 18 months old, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She received her treatment at Johns Hopkins.

“Lemonade was like my favorite drink when I was little, and I loved it when I was in the hospital. I used to always drink it,” Caroline said.

She didn’t know it at the time, but a seed had been planted.  

After a two-year battle with the disease, Caroline ended up winning and was told she was cancer free. The frequent trips to the hospital were no longer necessary. But that wasn’t the case for everyone, including her cousin, who was also a patient there.

“Some of her friends were in the inpatient program and stuck there for weeks and weeks at a time, so she wanted to bring them toys,” said Charles Gallagher, Caroline’s father.

That’s when she had the idea for the lemonade stand. She would make and sell the lemonade to her neighbors, then use the money she earned to buy presents.

“She set up the lemonade stand the same day she had the idea. I think she made about $35,” said Charles.

The following year, Caroline set up shop in the front yard once again, but this time with support from family, friends and neighbors, she made about $500.

“And then, year three, the media got involved and profiled it. That year, we went from like $500 to $18,000,” Charles said.

Last year, C&C Lemonade Factory, its ‘official’ name, raised more than $20,000.

“I thought it would last maybe a couple years. I didn’t know it would be this big, and I didn’t know we would be doing it nine years,” Caroline said proudly.

Each year, it continues to grow. She even has partners now. Aside from little sister, Charlotte, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Bucs, the Lightning and the Rowdies have all supported her desire to end childhood cancer.

Caroline’s dad couldn’t be prouder.

“I’m blown away that her heart is that big, and she has an appreciation for others, and she has a desire to help,” Charles said.

In fact, she’s already decided that she’s going to be a doctor when she grows up.

“I just like helping. I feel like if you’re a doctor you're helping people, and if you’re a vet you're helping animals,” Caroline said.

Until then, she’ll continue in her role as owner, operator and founder of C&C Lemonade Factory, located in her parents’ front yard.