Mar. 14--Dressed as a princess in a white gown and sparkling tiara, Grace Ekis stepped into a horse-drawn carriage and enjoyed an unforgettable ride down Route 30 last summer.
When she reached her destination, Pluma's Restaurant in North Huntingdon, the 5-year-old was greeted by many of her friends, and the youngsters spent a fine afternoon dancing and enjoying many treats.
This princess party that seems to have been taken straight out of a fairy tale was made possible by Jamie's Dream Team, a nonprofit organization based in White Oak that provides "dreams" or assistance to individuals who have serious medical needs.
Funds needed to provide these dreams come from many sources including young people performing community service like the students in the Hempfield Enrichment Program at West Hempfield Middle School.
Last winter, the HEP students held a bowl-a-thon in support of Grace's family.
This year they held a similar event with proceeds going to Jamie's Dream Team in Grace Elizabeth Ekis' memory. Grace, the daughter of Tamara and Brian Ekis of North Huntingdon, died Feb. 14 after a brave and courageous battle with brain cancer.
The Ekis family came out to the event, which was held Saturday at Hillview Bowling Lanes in Greensburg.
"Of course, we were touched, and we kind of felt like it came full circle," said Tamara Ekis, explaining the bowling event last year was the first of many events held to show support toward Grace after she was diagnosed Jan. 4, 2007, with pontine glioma, a tumor in the brain stem. The location of the tumor made it inoperable.
As her sons Colin, 12, and Garrett, 9, bowled at the event, Tamara Ekis talked about the outpouring of support the family has experienced for Grace.
She said many people at the suggestion of her family are making memorial donations in Grace's name to the Child Life Department of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
"There are a couple of other possibilities," she explained.
The Relay for Life at Norwin team Amazing Grace will be forming again soon and people are welcome to join the team or support the team through a donation to the American Cancer Society.
Additionally, the Ekis family has spent time learning about a foundation called Prayers from Maria, which actively funds research into specific forms of childhood cancer known as gliomas.
Tamara Ekis said she is toying with the idea of creating a foundation in Grace's name, but she's not sure yet.
"Our immediate thought is that we should band together with some other families rather than everybody having their own," she said. "I'd like to raise awareness and continue on with some of the things that we've impacted the community with."
One thing she'd like to continue is getting the word out about Jamie's Dream Team.
Kim Shidel, vice president of Jamie's Dream Team, said the organization was started nearly three years ago by her then-teenage daughter, Jamie Holmes, who was born with birth defects. Holmes, who continues to struggle with her health, was the recipient of a lot of community outreach and started the organization as a way to give back.
"It's starting to catch on. We're getting a lot of response," Shidel said.
The organization is in the process of helping three children in particular right now who will all benefit from the HEP Bowl-A-Thon, which raised $2,290.
"One hundred percent of all the donations go to the kids. We don't take anything," Shidel explained.
When Jamie's Dream Team makes a dream come true for a child, they always strive to include the siblings.
Jamie's Dream Team also helps adults as well as children. For example, they helped Brandon Lewis, 20, of North Huntingdon by providing him with new furniture and help with prom expenses. Lewis, who suffers from leukemia, had a bone marrow transplant last summer.
Tricia Kaylor of White Oak, a board member of Jamie's Dream Team, said the group is looking forward to helping three children in the near future. One boy will be treated to a carnival on his street and two young girls will be getting princess parties.
"We want to help more kids," Kaylor said.
As the group continues to raise awareness, it is planning a golf outing May 17 at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Rostraver. Details about this event will be available on the Web site www.jamiesdreamteam.com.
Alex Pedder, who is in seventh grade at West Hempfield Middle School, was glad to help raise money for Jamie's Dream Team.
"I try to help any way I can," said Pedder, who enjoys performing community service.
For Chelsi Bartlow, also a seventh-grader at the school, the bowl-a-thon was a win-win situation.
"It's great. You get to be with your friends and help out at the same time," Bartlow said. "It's a great feeling."
Mark Beck, who sponsors the HEP program, explained the students are involved with Toys for Tots and visit folks at nursing homes.
He suggested the bowl-a-thon last year as a way to help the Ekis family. He met them while his daughter Julia was taking ballet and tap dance lessons with Grace. The two little girls also knew each other through Daisies.
Last year, the young people raised $1,700, and everyone was eager to hold the event again. Even some former HEP members who have moved on to the high school came to the event to show their support.
"The kids like it," Beck said. "I think it's important to give back to society."
Jamie's Dream Team accepts donations at the following address: 2023 Cypress Drive, White Oak, PA 15131.
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