Spring-Ford Student Loses Battle with Cancer, But 'The Fight Continues'

Brooke Elementary School student Julia Grace Eveland lost her three-year battle with cancer on Sept. 5, but not before creating a legacy that will help to find a cure for cancer for years to come.

Julia was first diagnosed with a stage three Wilms' tumor, a type of childhood kidney cancer, on her fifth birthday. Since then, she had a kidney, adrenal glands and lymph glands removed and was on courses of chemotherapy and radiation.

Julia was cancer-free for about a year, and then suffered three relapses when the cancer spread to her lungs. 

While battling the cancer, Julia worked to raise money for cancer research, and to help cancer patients – beginning with creating her own Relay for Life team, to donating her birthday presents cancer patients when she turned 7 years old, to asking a school fundraiser for her be directed to help children with cancer at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, because she saw “a lot of sick kids and felt bad for them.”

This year, Brooke Elementary staff and parents held various fundraising events and raised over $6,000 for CHOP at Julia’s request; in April, she presented the check.

“Julia wanted to help her doctor’s find a cure for cancer," according to her parents, John and Janet Eveland. " And more importantly, she wanted to help other children and their families as they battled this horrible disease."

To keep Julia’s generous spirit alive, the Evelands have created Julia’s Grace Foundation, to fund childhood cancer research projects, raise awareness of childhood cancer and help children battling cancer, and their families.

Julia’ life will be celebrated on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Catagnus Funeral Home, located at 329 N. Lewis Road in Royersford.  A reflection and memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m.

The Evelands ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Julia’s Grace Foundation, P.O. Box 1081, Royersford, PA 19468.

A 5K at ATA Martial Arts in Royersford will be the first fundraiser for Julia’s Grace Foundation on Sept. 29. For more information and to register, click here.