Grace Eline was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at age 9. Now, six years later – and five years cancer-free – she is supporting other kids in their fight against cancer.
Grace and her mother Aubrey, who are from Gillette in Morris County, traveled to Washington, D.C. on February 13 as volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). They joined around 200 other cancer patients, survivors and family members from 32 states and the District of Columbia in the nation’s capital for the 14th Annual Alliance for Childhood Cancer Action Days, a two-day event organized by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, of which ACS CAN is a member.
The group wants to fully fund the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act to improve the quality of life of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families. They also called on lawmakers to co-sponsor the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, which helps kids with complex medical needs have access to out-of-state providers. Additionally, they urged Congress to continue to make strong investments in the National Institutes for Health and the National Cancer Institute to help advance discoveries in the fight against childhood cancer.
During the visit, Grace shared her story, urging lawmakers to fund childhood cancer programs and make sure pediatric cancer research remains a top priority. She spoke with Representative Thomas Kean; the offices of Representatives Mikie Sherrill, Frank Pallone, Josh Gottheimer and Jefferson Van Drew; and the offices of Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker.
This isn’t the first time Grace has taken action for other children. In 2019, she attended the State of the Union address as a representative for pediatric cancer patients across the U.S. to commemorate the establishment of the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative. Since then, Grace and Aubrey have been traveling to Washington, D.C., to urge lawmakers to prioritize funding for and legislation to enhance the survivorship and quality of life of pediatric cancer patients.
“Connecting with lawmakers and shedding light on our experiences as a survivor and caregiver can have a real impact,” Aubrey says. “We’ve seen it. Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint, so we have to keep showing up and telling lawmakers why specific legislation and continued funding is critical in the fight against pediatric cancer. In a way, it’s healing; Grace was one of the lucky ones—she made it. A lot of people we met along the way weren’t so lucky. By continuing to advocate, we get to honor them.”
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to information provided by ACS CAN. About 9,620 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024. An estimated 1,040 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2024.
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