Grace Elizabeth Ekis was the center of attention at the first Race for Grace in late 2007.

Just a few months later, on Valentine's Day 2008, Grace lost her 13-month battle with a rare cancerous brain tumor.

Her spirit, selflessness and courage will be remembered March 28 at the second Race for Grace at Norwin High School.

Those who register by Saturday will receive a race T-shirt. Registrants will continue to be accepted after Saturday, including 7 to 8 a.m. March 28.

The race, which begins at 9 a.m., offers terrain featuring some hilly areas.

Brian Ekis and his wife, Tamara, expect to reach the goal of having 500 runners and walkers. Cost is $25 per participant.

The spirit of generosity shown them in their time of need drives the Ekises -- including Grace's brothers Colin and Garrett -- and a community of friends to raise money to help other families whose children face the incurable disease.

"It's nice to stop and think real soon we'll be able to cut a check to someone," Brian Ekis said. "That's really our motivation. We kind of look back on things that were done for us."

The Ekises remember the meals, housekeeping and laundry services from friends and neighbors while the family dealt with Grace's treatments.

This year's race benefits Reflections of Grace Foundation, which raises money to provide financial, emotional and educational support for children affected by pediatric brain cancer and their families, as well as to raise awareness of the tumors and funding the search for a cure.

Grace was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, an inoperable tumor located in the brain stem. About 150 to 200 children are diagnosed with DIPG -- the rarest and worst of all pediatric brain tumors. Survival time is just nine to 12 months from the diagnosis.

Ashley Metz, of Wilkins Township, who is now race director, first met the Ekis children at the day-care center where her mother works.

The family wanted to help after hearing of Grace's illness. Her sister Amanda took the idea to her student leadership class at Woodland Hills High School.

That was where the first race was held. Because of the support of the Norwin community, where the Ekises had moved before Grace was diagnosed, the site of this year's race will be Norwin High School.

The mission of the race has been twofold -- to celebrate and honor Grace's legacy and to fulfill the Reflections of Grace Foundation's mission of raising money to help families and to fund research.

A post-race program and ceremony are planned at the March 28 event.

"It's not going to be just the run and everyone packs up and goes," Ekis said.

"We wanted to make sure it's a community event," Metz said.

A line dance to honor Grace will be taught prior to the race and will be performed every hour. Metz, who teaches at The Elite School of Dance in Irwin, created the movements for both children and adults to enjoy.

The race also will offer refreshments, face-painting, crafts, nail-painting, a cookie-decorating station and "other different things Grace liked to do," Metz said.

People also can donate hair for wigs for patients undergoing cancer treatments.

The day will conclude about 1 p.m. when Hanna Belmonte of Forest Hills will sing "Amazing Grace" -- as she did at Grace's funeral.

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