GRACEful Hope is dedicated to the awareness, research, and prevention of ovarian cancer and was founded in 2009, shortly after the passing of Grace Rocha on December 12, 2008 and also in support of her daughter, Erika, who was diagnosed in early 2007 at the age of 16. GRACEful Hope initially began as a team of family and friends participating in the Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women in NYC walk
ing in solidarity and raising funds to support our girls and other women battling ovarian cancer. With Erika’s passing on January 8, 2011 at the age of 20, we were devastated. We were faced with two options-we could just mourn the loss of Grace and Erika, or we do something about it. To date, GRACEful Hope has participated in and fundraised for several EIF Revlon Run/Walks, Kaleidoscope of Hope Walkathons, and the Turn The Towns Teal ovarian cancer awareness campaign, and hopes to further the organization’s impact in the fight against ovarian cancer through our current efforts to be formally recognized as a non-profit foundation. We know that community activism is the first step in our continued fight and hope that with your support, GRACEful Hope may continue supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, honoring the taken, and never, ever giving up hope.
