ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — When Nevaeh Denine passed away on Aug. 9, 2018, nobody could have predicted the impact this little girl would have on people.
Nevaeh had neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that develops in nerve tissue.
Her story went far and wide and even made its way to Metro Toronto where it touched a musical group that calls itself Splash’N Boots, a Canadian children’s musical duo consisting of Nick Adams (Splash) and Taes Leavitt (Boots).
“They contacted Stephanie O’Brien (OZ FM) a few months ago and said they were working on something,’’ Nevaeh’s mother Holly Denine told The Telegram Monday.
“They wrote (co-wrote with Alan Doyle) and recorded it. I am still amazed at how big an impression she left on people. This song will help keep that alive,’’ she added.
Doyle started the process by jotting down some ideas and when Splash’N Boots approached him to record their 12th studio album, the Juno award winning children’s album of the year “You, Me and the Sea”, he had this great idea for a song.
Once Adams heard what Doyle had done, he jumped in and the three of them completed the song “Lemonade’ in Nevaeh's honour.
Adams and Leavitt formed Splash’N Boots in 2003 as a class project while studying at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ont. They are on a cross-Canada tour right now.
They played in St. John’s over the weekend and dropped around to a few spots to shoot footage for an upcoming video that included a stop on Kings Road, one of the hiking trails midway up Signal Hill overlooking St. John’s harbour, and in front of Cabot Tower.
“It’s funny how these things come to fruition. Alan (Doyle) was at his doctor’s office and he read a story about Nevaeh,’’ Leavitt said. “It touched him.”
“Nevaeh was someone that had a heart so big, that when she got sick, it wasn’t about making it her problem, but instead she needed to give back,’’ she added noting that it is sad both she and Adams never got to meet her.
“I had known about her for a while,’’ Adams said.
“What she stood for was too important a story not to share with the people in Canada,’’ he added.
And what better way to celebrate her memory than on her birthday.
Nevaeh’s Lemonade Stand will be front and centre on Saturday (July 27) at the Paradise Double Ice Complex. It would have been Nevaeh’s 10th birthday.
“I hope it will be the biggest event yet,’’ Denine said.
“I think this is going to be the biggest year ever. I hope everyone that is around will come by and help us celebrate,’’ she added.
Denine said everyone is encouraged to drop by, enjoy a refreshing glass of lemonade and help the community raise money for children with cancer.
RELATED
