Meet the Race for Grace Team: Ellen Palmer

International Child Care board member, long-time supporter, and devoted Race for Grace participant Ellen Palmer has a strong passion to engage children in her community to help the children of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Children can make effective partners in her mission and grow to care and love for others.

"My children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are an active part of my life, and I hope by example I will pass the passion on to them to help the less fortunate," she told us.

This is one of the strong motivators of why for years she has ridden the 25 mile ride for Race for Grace during the Hotter'n Hell race in Wichita Falls, Texas. Ellen is retired from nursing academia and a passionate cheerleader for Race for Grace, which raises funds to help the children and families of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

She enjoys showing children how they can make a difference in someone else’s life. To engage children in Race for Grace, the First United Methodist Church of McKinney, Texas is promoting a fundraising bike race for kids at the church. On August 6, close to 100 kids will wear a Race for Grace t-shirt, decorate their bikes and trikes, and ride to support the children at Grace. On that same day, the children in the inpatient ward at the hospital in Haiti will also wear their shirts:

Ellen encourages other individuals, churches, and organizations to participate. For those considering riding in the race, she gives this advice: “Physically prepare for the race, but more importantly, involve others along the journey, as that is the blessing you’ll receive in return.”