Julya Pays it Forward

Going swimming and playing sports, especially softball and hockey, were just a few of the activities that nine-year-old Julya enjoyed before being diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma at a very young age. While enduring numerous medical treatments and visits to the hospital, Julya found happiness in reading mystery novels, spending time with her family and dreaming of her trip to Hawaii, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation^®. In December 2004, Julya and her family enjoyed a wonderful trip to the island of Oahu, where they took a trip to Pearl Harbor, swam with the dolphins and visited an active volcano.

After returning home from her magical vacation, this amazing young girl decided to “pay it forward” and organize a coin-collection fundraiser at her school to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since her trip in 2004, Julya continues to collect donations for the foundation and has raised nearly $4,000 to help make the wishes of other local children come true.