Students Sell 'Thinking Of Gracie' Bracelets To Help Girl With Cancer

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It was last month when we first were introduced to 8-year-old Gracie Joles.

She was diagnosed with brain cancer and her parents decided they would do what they do best -- capture the ordeal on camera.

Gracie's parents are both photographers for the Star Tribune, and they are documenting everything from radiation treatments to Gracie's special moments.

One of those special moments happened Thursday morning at Cottage Grove Middle School. Gracie's cousin worked with other seventh graders to raise money, selling "Thinking of Gracie" bracelets.
 

Liz Flores, Gracie's mom, said the little blue bracelets were made and sold as a fundraiser for Gracie's medical fund -- an idea that came from her cousin, Michael Dufresne.

"It makes me feel pretty good that I helped my cousin with her fund," Dufresne said.

So far, the bracelets have been pretty popular.

"Really good, we got almost $500, so we did pretty good," said Joey Lennartson, a seventh grader.

Flores said progress-wise, Gracie's doing about the same.

"Things are OK," she said. "Last week, we were a little bit concerned because she had been sleeping a fair amount of time, so we took her in and they said that was pretty normal, that she had a delayed reaction to the radiation. All is good, my hopes are still really high and we have another MRI scheduled for June 10th."

For now, Gracie's all smiles as she looks out at the sea of students with "Thinking of Gracie" bracelets.

"I think I'm really happy, glad," she said. "It makes me feel strong and happy."