5K Race for Grace slated for April 6 in North Huntingdon

The annual 5K Race for Grace, which has raised more than $1.78 million over 16 years for pediatric brain cancer research and to aid families, will be held April 6 at the Norwin High School campus in North Huntingdon.

Opening activities begin at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 9 a.m. Indoor games, dance performances, a basket raffle, silent auction and charitable hair donations will be held after the race and will conclude at 1 p.m. following an awards ceremony.

The Reflections Of Grace Foundation, which sponsors the race, hopes to raise $178,000 this year from this year’s event, organizers said. The foundation was created in memory of Grace Ekis, who died at age 5 of a rare brain cancer on Valentine’s Day in 2008.

“The money raised from the Race For Grace and other foundation events has been used to ease the financial burdens families face when their child is diagnosed with brain cancer,“ said Tamara Ekis, Grace’s mother and president of the Reflections of Grace Foundation.

Thanks to money raised from the race and other fundraisers, the organization said it has given $873,000 to 600 families of children who are battling brain cancer across the country. The foundation also has awarded $710,000 to fund research grants through the Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Collaborative, with the hope of discovering a cure. Grace Ekis suffered from DIPG.

Participants can register online at reflectionsofgrace.org and sign up for either the 5K run, 5K walk or 1 mile fun walk. A virtual option has been created for those unable to attend in person.

Registration is $30 for adults and $25 for children age 12 and younger. Virtual participants also can register for the event.

Registration is an additional $5 from April 2 to race day.