Inaugural Charlotte Grace 5K/1-mile Fun Run set for Saturday, April 6

By Mary Murray

This Saturday, April 6, marks the inaugural Charlotte Grace 5K. The event includes a 5K race, 1-mile Fun Run/Walk and Kids Races in at East Goshen Park (1661 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA). The event begins at 10 a.m. and aims to strengthen the efforts of the HEADstrong Foundation’s commitment to families affected by cancer through the Charlotte Grace Fund.

The Charlotte Grace Fund joined forces with HEADstrong to help raise awareness, funds and services for those affected by cancer. The Fund’s goal is to provide financial assistance to families of children who are fighting pediatric cancer. The hope of the Fund is to provide assistance that will help families stay together and spend time together while helping ease the burden that cancer can cause. The Charlotte Grace Fund also provides grants for qualified recipients to try and help ensure the well-being of families, including offsetting the costs of transportation, parking, lodging and living.

The Charlotte Grace Fund was created in memory of Charlotte Grace Radcliffe, who was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma shortly after her birth. Charlotte, affectionately known as ‘Charley,’ underwent three rounds of induction chemotherapy, followed by three rounds of stem cell transplants and an additional three rounds of high dose chemotherapy. During her cancer treatment, Charlotte lived in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for nearly six months. In August of 2016, Charlotte was admitted to CHOP for the last time when she was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease. She lived in the PICU over the next eight months while she was awaiting bilateral lung transplants. On April 6, 2017, Charlotte lost her fight.

During Charlotte’s fight, her parents, Jackie and B.J., experienced the familial stresses and the financial burdens that a cancer diagnosis can have on a family. What the Radcliffe’s saw during their time around critically ill children drove them in their decision to make a difference, which resulted in them establishing the Charlotte Grace Fund.

The link to donate to the Charlotte Grace Fund can be found here.

To register for the Charlotte Grace 5K, click here.