(above) Grace Eline, a Gillette resident and brain tumor Survivor, joined forces with New Providence’s Bagel Café.
Gillette Resident Grace Eline’s WITH Grace Initiative
Submitted by Jane Koppelman
11-year-old brain cancer survivor, Grace Eline of Gillette, has started her own charity with the help of The American Childhood Cancer Organization. In her first initiative, Grace arranged breakfast to be donated to staff and pediatric cancer warriors by the Bagel Café, New Providence for multiple pediatric cancer hospitals in the area.
Grace posted on her Instagram page, “pediatric cancer doesn’t take a break. Neither does the amazing staff helping these warriors and their families. Thanks to the generosity of the Bagel Café, New Providence, we were able to provide breakfast for The Valerie Fund crew at Morristown Hospital today. We did the same for TVF Newark Beth Israel last week. They are near and dear to our hearts! Thank YOU for your kind, generous support of our mission and our warriors. We appreciate you all.”
Breakfasts have delighted not only the little cancer warriors but also been shared with committed front-line workers, and hospital staff. This initiative has not only engaged the community but helped to brighten the day of all those touched. Craig Bass, Owner of Bagel Cafe in New Providence, N.J. and Grace Eline of Morris Country spread the love through deliveries to six local hospitals: Newark Beth Israel Hospital – The Valerie Fund, Morristown Medical Center Goryeb Children’s Hospital – The Valerie Fund, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Patterson – The Valerie Fund, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick, RWJ St. Barnabas Hospital, and a special drop off for Memorial Day to the Veterans Hospital in Lyons.
“When I met little Grace, she was all smiles and filled with such energy you wouldn’t know she had battled a brain tumor. She wouldn’t want it any other way. Grace, and her mom, wanted to thank all the doctors and nurses who helped her during her treatments. Grace came up with the idea of providing breakfast to doctors and nurses. When she told me her favorite bagels were from Bagel Cafe, I could not wait to be a part of it! She continues to deliver positivity, hope and breakfast to all those in the fight to beat cancer. She even started a blog. I follow her and you should too!”
WITH Grace will be working on many more initiatives to help spread kindness and raise awareness for childhood cancer. The young advocate plans on engaging more community members to start a master class series and raise money for pediatric cancer research in the future.
About WITH Grace
At nine years old, Grace was diagnosed with Germinoma, a germ-cell brain tumor. In May 2018, Grace traded her softball glove and gymnastics leotard for chemotherapy and proton radiation. Throughout the rest of the year, Grace stayed positive and strong, making the rounds in the hospital, cheering up other patients and always having a smile for the many caring medical professionals who treated her. Grace will tell you that maybe it wasn’t the most fun thing to do, but she wouldn’t trade the people she met and the friends she made for anything. As the true warrior she is, Grace has channeled her energy into helping several charities with fundraising, awareness campaigns, and visits to pediatric patients.
Grace started the WITH Grace Initiative, in collaboration with The American Childhood Cancer Organization. Grace has been able to be an advocate for pediatric cancer research funding. She has spoken to key lawmakers not only in her home state of New Jersey but repeatedly on a national level and has represented the cause at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Grace is passionate about being the voice for kids with cancer and wants to help find a cure. The WITH Grace Initiative is dedicated to pediatric cancer research funding, advocacy for the cause and direct care initiatives to those fighting the disease and their families. Please visit withgraceinitiative.org to learn more about the journey of this extraordinary 11-year old.
