Julian was one cool kid. At four, he could swim the back stroke, play the piano, command a dance floor and carry on long conversations about his favorite movies, books and superhero plots.

On Nov. 29, 2010, Julian woke disoriented and ill. His family was thunderstruck when an MRI revealed a mass at the base of his brain later diagnosed as a brain stem glioma. Traveling from their home in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. to Memphis, Julian amazed many with his endurance through experimental doses of radiation and chemotherapies under the care of Dr. Amar Gajjar at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The ruthless disease stole our sweet boy on July 3, 2011. The courage Julian mustered during those seven months inspires us every day and now lives on through The Julian Boivin Courage for Cures Foundation

A Foundational Partner with the DIPG Collaborative since 2012, Courage for Cures is dedicated to raising awareness and funding for pediatric brain tumor research and patient programs.