A New Canaan family will host an event in town this fall to support children and families facing pediatric cancer.
Grace Falsetta, a New Canaan High School freshman, was diagnosed with leukemia in middle school. Soon after, she and her family launched the Gracie Fund for Pediatric Cancer, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children facing life-threatening cancer by supporting the people, programs, and organizations that care for them.
Credit: Chris Falsetta
After hosting a well-attended fundraiser in 2023, the NC Combine, Grace Falsetta — together with her twin sister, Isabella Falsetta, and their friend, Tate Salerno — came up the “Soap Box Derby.”
“The NC Combine was great,” Grace Falsetta told NewCanaanite.com. “After that, so many kids wanted to get involved and we decided that we needed an event focused around kids. Then we thought, everyone in New Canaan loves cars and Soap Box Derbies are so classic. It seemed like a great fit.”
The event calls for months of lead time, since participants can either build their own Soap Box vehicles from a kit or from scratch, or purchase one already made.
The Derby will take place Oct. 4.
A beautiful dog at the NC Combine 2023, held Oct. 1 at Dunning Field. Credit: Michael Dinan
“We need people and families who are willing to make a soapbox car and raise it,” Chris Falsetta said. “That’s our number one ask from the community right now. We have a number of people that have signed up to do that, and we need plenty more.”
The Falsettas said they have a few goals for the derby.
“Number one, make it a fun community event that raises awareness, and two, raise money and help more kids and families,” Chris Falsetta said. “And of course, three, I want people to have fun.”
The Falsettas raised about $500,000 through the Combine, “and we’ve done quite a bit with it,” Chris Falsetta said.
“The money’s been used in phenomenal ways to help a lot of kids and families,” he said.
With the funds, the Falsettas were able to fund medical programs and help pediatric cancer families with medical and related expenses.
Grace Falsetta, who finished cancer treatments one year ago, said, “We even re-designed the Yale pediatric cancer kids room and launched an art program there. We would like to keep helping people like this.”
The Combine “was really special for me,” Grace Falsetta said.
“I was pretty sick back then and seeing all the people from New Canaan there to support us made me feel so much better,” she said. “I really hope that the derby does that for some other kids who are battling cancer right now.”
The Soap Box Derby will take place at New Canaan Country Day School, Oct. 4 at 1:00pm. All racers must register before race day. E-mail at chris@graciefund.org or use the sign-up button linked here.
Bravo Gracie Fund – and the Falsetta family! Not only are you raising money for an important cause, but creating yet another wonderful memory for the New Canaan family at large. We are in awe of your family’s ability to turn something horrible into a force for good. Congrats to Grace on her one year anniversary. I can’t wait to go cheer on the soap boxes and YOU!