The spirit of the Love Like Lacey campaign lived on through two MSU alumni who ran the New York City Marathon Sunday in honor of Lacey Holsworth.
Holsworth was introduced to MSU students through her friendship with then-senior and MSU basketball forward Adreian Payne last year. She captured the hearts of many in the Spartan community and the nation, but in April, the 8-year-old died from neuroblastoma, a nerve-cell cancer .
After her death, wristbands and T-shirts were sold to honor Holsworth and support her family, and basketball sportscaster Dick Vitale created a pediatric cancer research grant in her memory.
MSU alumni Sarah Grossbart and Eric Flores , class of 2004 , decided to team up with Vitale and The V Foundation for Cancer Research to raise money for the grant.
“Hearing Dick Vitale talk about her and about his charity, hearing how passionate and committed he is, it’s hard not to get involved,” Grossbart said.
Grossbart, Flores and their friend Mara Reinstein ran the New York City Marathon this past weekend with the goal of raising $10,000 for cancer research. They hope to help children like Holsworth who suffer from cancer at a young age.
“We were so moved by Lacey’s story, it was heartbreaking to see a little girl fight so hard and lose her battle,” Grossbart said.
For the past two years, Grossbart and Reinstein have been fundraising for organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Stand Up To Cancer and The American Cancer Society. This time they wanted to support a cause closer to home.
“That little story got such national attention, and I think that everyone was touched by this girl who was so courageous and brave fighting this battle,” Reinstein said. “She was so sick and still did so much and had a really positive outlook on life.”
While deciding where they wanted to donate the money they would raise by running the New York City marathon this year, Reinstein learned that pediatric cancer research largely relies on private donations, not government funding.
Their fundraiser, Spartans for Lacey, has raised $17,045 so far. After receiving an overwhelming response, they bumped up the goal to $20,000.
Comments from donors on the campaign’s First Giving webpage supported their efforts.
“ From another moved by Lacey’s story, thank you for doing this — have a great race!” wrote an anonymous donor.
Reinstein said she and Grossbart tried to make a difference and hope that one day, a cancer diagnosis will not be a death sentence.
“If my helping to raise money can put it in the right place and give doctors a chance to cure this disease, that’s all I can hope for,” Grossbart said.
