St. George lights up for Evan Leversage, boy who made Christmas come early
Monday's event is called Lights for Evan
It's been one year since the small town of St. George, Ont., made Christmas come early for a boy with terminal cancer. Now, in his memory, the town is again celebrating Christmas early.
St. George residents will hang Christmas lights and leave them on overnight Monday in memory of Evan Leversage.
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Evan, 7, battled brain cancer for five years. Last fall, doctors told his family to celebrate Christmas early — that he might not make it until Dec. 25. The whole town joined in and even held a Santa Claus parade. It got worldwide attention.
Evan was admitted to a hospice on Nov. 4 and his family maintained a vigil at his bedside until his death on Dec. 6.
"One of Evan's favourite highlights during his stay at the hospice was the day that staff wheeled his bed into the family room so that he could direct the volunteer firefighters who were putting together the huge 12-foot Christmas tree," a statement on the hospice's Facebook page said at that time.
"Evan took great pride in telling them where to put each decoration on that tree and also enjoyed a special visit from Santa."
Evan's mother Nicole Wellwood said in a statement posted on Facebook "I was holding him as he took one last deep breath, and I knew at that very moment that this would be his last. I couldn't believe my eyes but he died with the most beautiful smile on his face."
Evan's story attracted international attention with people reaching out from as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom.
Monday's event is called Lights for Evan. Volunteers will escort Evan's mom and brothers around the town to see the lights.
Evan's mom, Nicole Wellwood, told 570 News that she misses him.
"The light that he literally gave within this household is something I'll never forget," she said.