Tinley Couple Keeps Late Daughter's Legacy Alive With St. Baldrick's Event

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park couple whose daughter died at 20 years old after battling cancer three times continues to keep her legacy alive by raising funds to support childhood cancer research.

Jeff and Leslie Janes—parents to Julia Janes—will hold their 8th annual Julia's Legacy of Hope/St. Baldrick's fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 at Gaelic Park. Formerly of Oak Forest, the couple holds the town that supported their daughter amid her cancer fight close to their hearts. Julia, an Oak Forest High School graduate, died in 2013, after fighting Ewing sarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia.

Even as Julia waged her own battles, she set an example of selflessness and compassion that her parents have sought to emulate in the years since her death. The St. Baldrick's event in her honor has raised more than $1 million—and all of it goes back to cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Hero Fund.

The event has grown each year, Jeff and Leslie Janes said, and this year's event will honor the six teachers who started the original Julia's Legacy at Oak Forest High School, while recognizing five more who had a huge impact on Julia while she was a student there.

"We have come a long way, as we will be funding our 10th research grant later this year with over $1,000,000 raised since 2018," Jeff Janes said.

Partnering with Superheroes in Kilts, the event outgrew its original space, now moving to a bigger room—plus the room behind it, Janes said. The event includes head shaving with local police and fire departments as well as community supporters, performances from two bands including the OFHS Jazz Band, an Elvis impersonator, kids' activities and basket raffles.

Community support has been vital in growing the event significantly each year, the couple said. This year's basket raffle, for instance, features 110 baskets.

"Next year, we might have two full rooms for the baskets themselves," Jeff Janes remarked. "We had to limit the number of baskets because there’s just not room."

Also featured will be a return performance from the child/teen dancers at Elevate Dance Company, a Rainbow Cone Ice Cream truck, and an appearance by the 501st Garrison from Star Wars. Large screens will be available for teens to play video games, complemented by the Lucky's Little Heroes section, with crafts and activities geared toward littler attendees.

And for adults, activities like a ring toss with alcohol prizes.

"What we’ve learned is, to engage people, you need it to be an interactive event," the couple said.

The couple said they feel compelled to show their appreciation for their community—and others around it—that lifted their family up during difficult times.

"Because everyone was so good to Julia and our family when we lived in Oak Forest, we just want to give back to the community and thank them for everything they did to help us," Jeff Janes said.

'They did it for Julia'

A 2011 Oak Forest High School graduate, Janes radiated love, positivity, selflessness and passion.

Throughout her fight, Julia dedicated her time to lifting the spirits of little ones battling cancer as a volunteer at both St. Jude's and Advocate Children's Hospital. She was previously described as a "very quiet, unassuming private person ... always thinking of other people."

"She’d never brag, she was very quiet about it," Leslie Janes said, "but she was very emphatic about helping, especially small children.

"... Everyone would tell her she had an old spirit, an old soul. She was so mature, so interested in helping others. She loved kids, she loved people."

Julia excelled as a soccer player at OFHS, where she was bestowed the Imagine Award—named for the song by John Lennon—for her vision to imagine there are no obstacles to hold her back. She was named Saint Xavier University's 2009 Women's Soccer "Cougar of the Year." As a sophomore she played on varsity, where coaches recognized her indomitable spirit with the Bengal Inspirational Award, for her courage in battling cancer. Her selflessness earned her the Bengal "We" award, because she never put herself first.

Though her illness kept her from attending classes at OFHS her entire junior year, Julia kept up with her studies on her own and was accepted into the National Honor Society.

She went on to Bradley University, where she started the first-ever college chapter of CureSearch, an international organization that supports targeted and innovative children's cancer research with measurable results. She also joined ESA, a service sorority. Julia planned to travel abroad in Costa Rica, but her hopes were dashed in December 2012, when her college career was cut short following a diagnosis of leukemia.

Facing her last weeks, she decided to donate her savings to pediatric cancer research through the Cure It Foundation, an organization formed by her oncologist, Dr. Jason Canner, to fight kids’ cancer, her parents wrote on her website.

"One of her last wishes was so that no other kid would have to go through what she went through," Jeff Janes said. "The amazing person that she was, even in death, in hospice, she was concerned about other people besides herself."

Julia's nature had endeared her to many, including her teachers. Three months after her death, a group of teachers organized a fundraising event in her honor, held at 115 Bourbon Street. That event raised $40,000—and was the first to bear Julia's name, as Julia's Legacy.

Jeff and Leslie Janes moved to Tinley Park in 2015, but the Oak Forest High School educators who so loved Julia still tug at their hearts.

They will honor those teachers and school staff—Kate Vana, Jen Schanz, Barb Kotches, Katie Gomez, Dawn Sasek, Laurie Genardo and Rita Damhorst—at the March 7 event.

Schanz, Kotches and Gomez were key to her journey, Julia's parents said. They were at the hospital, checking on Julia, and at the family's house, checking on the family frequently.

"They became family," the couple said.

They also recognized other Oak Forest High School staff that loved Julia, visited her in the hospital and honored her in so many other ways throughout the school, including:

• Nick Rojek. OFHS band leader who brought the entire band to Hope Hospital to perform in the clinic for homecoming. "Julia couldn't come to homecoming, so homecoming came to her," her parents said.
• Victor Pazek. Chorus leader. With Nick Rojek, honored Julia with a beautiful musical tribute.
• Brian McDonough. History teacher and head football coach, who battled cancer while Julia battled cancer. They supported each other. McDonough brought the lead football players to the hospital and gave Julia the homecoming game ball, her parents said.

Julia had always wanted to be a teacher, Jeff Janes said, and adored her teachers throughout her education. The feeling was mutual.

"They did it for Julia because they loved her so much," Jeff Janes said.

"... They were the team that came together and brought Julia’s legacy, our name, and then we carried it on," Leslie Janes said.

"We carried on Julia’s legacy with what they started. We can’t wait to see them. It is often like a family reunion: the nurses come, doctors come. Police and fire. It is like a family reunion when they’re there.

"These are all people who are still our friends today. Having this 'family reunion'—it was like our home. The nurses and everyone there were charmed by her."

It's not lost on them how special it is to reunite with the people who cared for and rallied around their daughter and family. Though it's been nearly 13 years since Julia died, time often feels stopped for her parents.

"It’s been a long time, but for us, it feels like time is still the same," Leslie Janes said. "But we realize, time moves on."

The event has become well-known in surrounding communities.

"...people come from all over," said Jeff Janes. "We can’t keep up with it anymore. We’re glad to have Superheroes in Kilts helping us."

This year's event has a record 62 shavees signed up, and walk-ins are welcome. Anyone under 18 needs a parent's signature, the couple said. All funds raised go directly back to the Hero Fund, which is then allocated directly to research.

"Being a part of the Hero Fund allows us to talk to the doctors and scientists—they give us the proposals," Leslie Janes said.

"What we love, is they come back to us—the scientists and the doctors—and they email us, share their stories and where they’re going with the information. We share their pictures—we want everyone to know where their money goes."

They plan to continue organizing the event for the foreseeable future.

"We are absolutely committed to doing this," Jeff James said. "Someone asked us how long we’re going to do this? Forever. As long as we can."

The event is dual purpose, enabling them to honor their daughter while supporting others in their own fights.

"We miss her terribly," Leslie Janes said.

The Julia's Legacy of Hope/St. Baldrick's event is set for Saturday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gaelic Park, 6119 147th St. A live band, cash bar, and traditional American and Irish fare from Gaelic Park will also be available.

Can't make it? You can make a donation online.