WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Thursday is the summer solstice, otherwise known as the longest day of the year. One Wichita family has created a tradition of fundraising for Alzheimer's research and support each year on the longest day of the year to raise both money and awareness. 

For 50 years, Roger Dale was an all-ages art teacher with a passion for spreading creativity. He was also Arta Quam’s father. 

“He loved to share art with the world, and loved to look at things from different perspectives,” said Arta Quam, fundraiser organizer. 

It was a shock when doctors diagnosed him with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in 2012. 

That's why nine years ago Arta decided to start raising money for the Alzheimer's Association with an annual lemonade stand - but it's not just a lemonade stand. 

“We color all day in his honor because that’s what he liked to do,” says Quam. 

It's a lemonade and coloring fundraiser that starts at the very beginning of the day and goes until sunset. Folks can stop by, give a donation, get a drink or sweet treat, and color. 

In the past, the completed coloring pages have been put on bulletin boards in local hospitals to spread joy. 

“This year, our goal is to take the art and turn it into cards and deliver them to local memory care units,” said Quam. 

This tradition is a full family affair as Arta, her mother, and her son Wyatt are all active parts of the fundraiser year after year. 

By doing this lemonade stand for the past 8 years, the family has donated more than $10,500 to the Alzheimer’s Association. This year they hope to donate even more. On Thursday alone, the stand raised $1,688.

Arta calls the fundraiser ‘the longest day’, not only because it is the longest day of the year, but also to honor those with Alzheimer's who also suffer with sundowning syndrome, an anxiety or confusion that comes later in the day that makes it difficult to rest. 

“What I feel like it shows individuals is you can help in any way possible. From a lemonade stand to a garage sale,” said Fe Vorderlandwehr, Alzheimer's Association. 

The family wants to raise, not just money, but awareness about this illness that affects nearly 7 million Americans. 

Even though her father passed away three years ago, his legacy lives on in a beautiful way.

In fact, if he was here today…“Oh he’d love it! He’d sit with me all day and color because that’s who he was,” said Quam. 

The family plans to continue participating in the longest day of the year again and again. 

This lemonade stand and Arta’s mission proves a father-daughter bond is never truly broken. 

That lemonade stand is located at 2nd and Edgemoor, and will remain open until sunset tonight around 9 p.m.

If you want to donate, but can’t make it to the lemonade stand, click here to donate.