Gracie's Story

Grace Irish, a precious member of our family was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at the age of four. As a patient at University of Michigan's C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, Gracie received thirty months of successful leukemia treatment, but as time passed, she developed a rare complication. Some of the greatest medical minds in the world are working at Mott to find additional treatment options for Gracie and other children.

Gracie's experience ignited a passion within our family to make a difference. Although remarkable treatments are available for kids with leukemia, we've learned that more successful treatments are desperately needed for children who relapse or experience complications.

We are forever grateful for the care Gracie has received and continues to receive at University of Michigan's C. S. Mott Children's Hospital. As a family, our tribute to Gracie's journey is establishing the "Gracie's Fund for Pediatric Leukemia Research." The innovative research and collaborative approach to medicine at University of Michigan's C. S. Mott Children's Hospital is extraordinary and with your help, we can make a difference.

~The Benser Family
Amy Benser-Irish and Ryan Irish
Robert J. Benser, Gigi Benser, Leslie Benser-Luciani and Don Luciani, Robert G. Benser, Heidi Benser

To make a gift to Gracie's Fund, please click here.

Sweet Helpings

Kids raising funds to help cure childhood cancer, one helping of fudge at a time

Did you know that Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer? Every year more than 3,000 children are affected in the U.S. each year.

Sweet Helpings was created by the cousins of 4-year-oldGracie, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The program was established to raise money for pediatric leukemia research at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan.

Sweet Helpings is a fundraising program. The program was created for schools to assist in raising money to help find a cure for a disease that affects approximately 1 in 1,000 school-aged children. Program participants sell Mackinac Island Fudge, donated by Murdick's Fudge Mackinac Island and100% of the money raised is donated to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in an effort to help fight pediatric leukemia and find a cure.

Research is the key to the cure! And helping is a sweet feeling.