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When it was believed that Dax Locke would not live to see 2009’s Christmas season, Jerry and Lynda Young decorated their Washington home with the Christmas decorations the little boy loved.
Although it was only October, many in Washington, surrounding communities and even across the nation followed suit to show their support for Dax and his family. Dax lived to see his favorite holiday, but died a few days later on Dec. 30, 2009.
Two years later, the community is still honoring Dax and helping to support his family’s mission to raise $1.6 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Youngs were among the 2,500 people who attended the Nov. 30 premiere of “The Heart of Christmas” at Peoria’s Rave Motion Pictures.
“We came tonight to follow up with the heartwarming story of not only the tragedy, but the triumph that the family experienced with the outpouring of love from the community,” Jerry said after the show. “It was very heartwarming. I’d definitely watch it again.”
The one-night premiere was complete with six showings of “The Heart of Christmas,” a red carpet, a performance by Grammy-nominated singer Matthew West and a fundraiser to help Julie and Austin Locke’s mission to support the hospital that never turns a family away regardless of their ability to pay for care. Ticket sales for the premiere raised $21,000 for St. Jude.
“We are so honored to be Dax’s parents and we are so proud of him,” Julie said. “He has made such an amazing impact on this world. I hope this movie helps to show people how important it is to cherish every moment with their families.”
The movie stars Candace Cameron Bure of “Full House” fame, as Megan, a mother and wife who struggles to find time to spend with her family. She takes her son trick-or-treating through the Locke’s neighborhood and finds homes adorned with Christmas decorations. Confused, Megan asks Trish (Erin Bethea), a neighbor, what is going on. She is directed to Julie’s blog and told, “It will change your life.”
Jeanne Neilson and Eric Beck play the Lockes.
“We went to Hollywood and it was just so crazy to walk up and meet somebody who’s playing you,” Julie said. “They were so excited to meet us and we were so excited to even be there. I was just awestruck by the whole situation.”
When it was believed that Dax Locke would not live to see 2009’s Christmas season, Jerry and Lynda Young decorated their Washington home with the Christmas decorations the little boy loved.
Although it was only October, many in Washington, surrounding communities and even across the nation followed suit to show their support for Dax and his family. Dax lived to see his favorite holiday, but died a few days later on Dec. 30, 2009.
Two years later, the community is still honoring Dax and helping to support his family’s mission to raise $1.6 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Youngs were among the 2,500 people who attended the Nov. 30 premiere of “The Heart of Christmas” at Peoria’s Rave Motion Pictures.
“We came tonight to follow up with the heartwarming story of not only the tragedy, but the triumph that the family experienced with the outpouring of love from the community,” Jerry said after the show. “It was very heartwarming. I’d definitely watch it again.”
The one-night premiere was complete with six showings of “The Heart of Christmas,” a red carpet, a performance by Grammy-nominated singer Matthew West and a fundraiser to help Julie and Austin Locke’s mission to support the hospital that never turns a family away regardless of their ability to pay for care. Ticket sales for the premiere raised $21,000 for St. Jude.
“We are so honored to be Dax’s parents and we are so proud of him,” Julie said. “He has made such an amazing impact on this world. I hope this movie helps to show people how important it is to cherish every moment with their families.”
The movie stars Candace Cameron Bure of “Full House” fame, as Megan, a mother and wife who struggles to find time to spend with her family. She takes her son trick-or-treating through the Locke’s neighborhood and finds homes adorned with Christmas decorations. Confused, Megan asks Trish (Erin Bethea), a neighbor, what is going on. She is directed to Julie’s blog and told, “It will change your life.”
Jeanne Neilson and Eric Beck play the Lockes.
“We went to Hollywood and it was just so crazy to walk up and meet somebody who’s playing you,” Julie said. “They were so excited to meet us and we were so excited to even be there. I was just awestruck by the whole situation.”
Julie, Austin and their daughter Madeline made a cameo appearance in the film during the final scene where Christmas carolers surprise the Lockes outside their home.
“It’s a very surreal experience,” Austin said. “It has been amazing to see everything come together. We’ve had so many people with such big hearts contributing to this. It was a low-budget movie, but these people knew the story and they pitched in. And that’s really the story of Dax, it’s people helping out of the goodness of their hearts.”
The Lockes, along with representatives from St. Jude, had complete approval of the film’s script. Reliving the experience, Julie said, was not a difficult experience.
“It just makes me happy to see people raising money and doing things for St. Jude, it’s my passion,” she said. “So for me it was more of a celebration for Dax.”
She added the experience has confirmed that “you’re never alone.”
“I feel so comfortable and confident and secure here and I know that so many people care about Dax,” she said. “It’s beautiful to see a small town embrace a family like they’ve done to us. They’ve taught the world about Dax. We’re taking away that relationships and family are the most important things.”
West became a part of the Locke’s story last year, penning “One Last Christmas,” a song based on Dax’s life. He played Mark, the Locke’s neighbor in “The Heart of Christmas.”
“He’s really gone above and beyond what we ever expected,” Austin said. “He wrote the song that started this, so we were thanking him because he was basically the guy who triggered all of this and then he came in a wrote the title song. That’s huge.”
West said he was honored to be a part of the Locke’s story once again.
“This is a story that has forever changed the way that I will approach the Christmas season,” he said. “It’s a story that helps me find the heart of Christmas.”
After each VIP showing, West performed for the audience.
“I hope the film touched your hearts,” West said to the audience after the 5 p.m. show. “It’s a beautifully powerful story, not just about a family and their little boy, but about how a whole community rallied together. The fact that this place is packed with people is the proof that even two years later this community has a great big heart and you’re rallying together to make a difference in the lives of children who are battling just like Dax did.”
Dax’s story and his family’s goal to help other families who benefit from St. Jude has spread beyond the local community and inspired others to help as well.
Jim and Amy Reith of St. Louis learned about the premiere while at one of West’s shows.
“Matthew West is one of my favorite singers,” Jim said. “We were at his concert in Paducah last spring when he introduced Austin and Julie. He said he was donating the proceeds from the show that night to St. Jude in honor of Dax.”
It was then that Jim decided to run the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon and raise funds for St. Jude.
Jim raised about $3,500 and ran Saturday’s race — his first half marathon — in two hours and 21 minutes. Each person who donated, signed the shirt he wore during the race. The Reiths drove up from St. Louis for the premiere, where the Lockes and West added their signatures to the shirt.
“I’m just hoping to continue to inspire and spread the word beyond Peoria and Washington,” Reith said. “I just wanted to help spread that message of hope.”
Reith hopes to put together a team of runners for next year’s Memphis race to raise money for St. Jude and run in honor of Dax.
Julie said she also plans to continue with the tradition of honoring her son and raising money to support the families of St. Jude each Christmas, although she is not giving any hints as to what’s up her sleeve quite yet.
So far, the Lockes have raised $550,000 for St. Jude.
An event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center will help to add to the Locke’s goal. Also called “The Heart of Christmas,” the event will feature more than 100 vendors, Christmas shopping for kids, live reindeer and Santa, himself.
Julie said watching “The Heart of Christmas” each Christmas with her family is a new tradition she plans to uphold.
