Plans are under way for the Inaugural Stephanie Grady Memorial Walk and Family BBQ which will be held Sunday, September 27th, 2015 starting at 12:30pm at the Stephanie Grady Educational Pavilion at the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ingleside.

PHOTO CREDIT - File Photo

Ingleside - September 24, 2015 - Plans are under way for the Inaugural Stephanie Grady Memorial Walk and Family BBQ which will be held Sunday, September 27th, 2015 starting at 12:30pm at the Stephanie Grady Educational Pavilion at the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ingleside.

In an effort to continue to tell Stephanie's powerful story and to build upon her legacy, an annual event to support local causes will be planned by the Grady family and Team Grady, and will be held on the last weekend of September �" the one marking Stephanie's birthday.

Friends, family and community members are welcome to come for a relaxing and reflective leisurely walk, while enjoying the fresh air, the company of loved ones, the sound of music in the background by local band, “Put it in Park” and a delicious BBQ. Any donations for the BBQ or other events are completely optional and will be going towards supporting the local Chapter of Camp Erin and the "Getting on Board" project of the St Lawrence Parks Commission and the Upper Canada Migratory Bird

Stephanie’s husband, Nick Grady, has been working to ensure a successful event in his wife’s honour. “In her final days, Stephanie expressed the desire to have something continue in her memory which would help others. It’s also important for me and for our children to give back to those who helped us during her battle. We are happy to organize this event in Stephanie’s name and our hope is to make this an annual tradition.”

In addition to facilitating this event, Nick Grady has already donated to various regional and local causes. During the unveiling of the Stephanie Grady Educational Pavilion in October 2014, Grady donated to the Canadian Cancer Society's Wheels of Hope program for the SD&G region. In Stephanie’s name, Nick also donated money to the Cornwall Community Hospital, Winchester District Memorial Hospital and Ottawa General. Annual Memorial Scholarships have been established for Rothwell-Osnabruck High School and Charlottetown Rural High school in PEI, and bursaries have been allocated for three local churches. In early April, Nick donated to the Friends of the Sanctuary’s, “Getting on Board” project. He also “played-it-forward” to the Cornwall Girls Hockey Association and to the N.G.S. Minor Hockey Association, in order to ensure youth who may not otherwise have a chance, can play.

Backgrounder About the “We're NUT Givin' Up” Campaign
The “We’re NUT Givin’ Up” campaign was launched in February 2014 to provide support for Stephanie Grady, a local wife and mother of three who battled a rare form of cancer called NUT Midline Carcinoma. Grady's hope for overcoming this form of cancer was an experimental drug called BET Inhibitor, one not covered by Ontario's health plan. The high cost of health care in the U.S., where Grady could enter the trials, prompted family and friends to form Team Grady.

Referred to by Stephanie as her, “Army of Blue”, individuals, schools and communities organized events and activities ranging from sporting events to dances, pub-nights, silent auctions, scrapbooking marathons, raffles, and more. The campaign reached as far as the East Coast to Prince Edward Island, where Stephanie Grady originated from.

"The united response to this initiative was overwhelmingly incredible and inspirational," said event organizer Heather Lisney. "The strength that the generosity of people provided to Stephanie as she fought was monumental. Their kindness still provides support and encouragement to Nick, the children and many others each day." Lisney continued, "Stephanie was an inspiration to so many. Her fighting spirit, combined with her cheeky humour and humility throughout her battle were qualities to be admired. Her family meant everything to her. She wanted to know she did everything she could to fight. She did."

Unfortunately, her disease progressed too rapidly for her to start treatment. On May 10th 2014, just four days after when she should have started the trials, she died peacefully in her home with her family by her side.