When the family of a 7-year-old Canadian boy with incurable cancer decided to celebrate Christmas early, little did they know that thousands of people would join in.
Evan Leversage lives in St. George, Ontario, which has a population of little over 3,000 people, but an estimated 7,000 people turned out for the festivities Saturday. Evan's mom, Nicole Wellwood, told ABC before the event that the family was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
Shortly after the family decided to celebrate early, Wellwood's cousin created an event on Facebook that exploded in popularity. People drove for miles to come support Evan and his family during their early Christmas.
There was a parade in which more than 200 floats volunteered, but the family chose their 25 favorites so Evan wouldn't be overwhelmed. The procession included a fire truck, Clydesdale horses and, of course, Santa Claus on his sleigh.
The fun didn't stop there. Evan and his brothers, 9-year-old Logan and 5-year-old Tyson, were named honorary policemen. Evan got to meet some of his favorite characters like Spongebob, and he was the center of attention as he spoke to news media about his big night.
The family also celebrated privately, and Evan and his brothers got to open presents under a Christmas tree.
Though Wellwood told ABC she had been worried that Evan's health might make it harder for him to enjoy his day, Evan was grinning wide throughout the night.
At the end of the night, Evan's family said he was exhausted but elated to have celebrated the holiday early with so many people.
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