When Cash McKinsey and Canon Mott decided to have a lemonade stand, it wasn’t to earn extra cash for themselves. The 8-year-olds had the victims of the Aurora theater shooting in mind.

“My mom said to me, `Wouldn’t it be nice to do something to help out,’ and I decided to have a lemonade stand from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday,” McKinsey said.

McKinsey recruited his buddy, Mott, and the two Westminster residents put up their stand on Aug. 4. Although it was hard work, Mott said, it was worth it, and he would do it again.

“It was good and tiring, and burning hot out there,” he said. “But it was fun, and I wanted to do it.”

McKinsey was in charge of the cash, and Mott was in charge of bringing in customers. He yelled, waved and even used a cow bell to get people’s attention. McKinsey jumped in to help, putting his dance moves to the test.

“I did the robot,” McKinsey said.

Selling lemonade for $1 a cup, the boys fared pretty well, earning more than $100. And after extra donations from friends and family, they finished the day’s business with $200. The boys donated half to the Bonfils Blood Center and half to Aurora Mental Health.

“We got a letter from the executive director of Aurora Mental Health that said how much everyone appreciated the donation and how much it meant to them,” said Michelle McKinsey, mother of Cash McKinsey. “It also said how the donations really gave the staff a boost in moral.”

Looking down the road, the Mott and McKinsey families are already thinking about a putting up a hot cocoa stand this winter to raise more funds for the victims of the Aurora shootings.

“I just wanted to help the wounded and those possibly on the brink of dying,” McKinsey said. “I would help others who need it, too, like police officers if there was an accident.”