Benefit Aims to Help Bayport Girl Acquire Needed Service Dog

A fundraiser to help a Bayport girl suffering from Dravet Syndrome will be held on August 5 at the American Ballet Studio on Middle Road in Bayport.

The event is focused on raising funds to help Grace LaFountain acquire a seizure alert service dog from 4 Paws for Ability. The six-year-old has been battling the life-threatening seizures and development disability since she was four months old.

The service dog, which costs over $10,000, will help the family by alerting to them of seizure activity and symptoms.

"This dog will give us a little more piece of mind because Grace's seizures are life threatening," explained her mom, Carolann. The Bayport Foundation, a local community organization recently provided a donation to the effort.

The “Dancing for Paws” benefit, which will feature a DJ, snacks, drinks, Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle, starts at 3 p.m. and the door ticket donation is $10. For more ticket and information call 218-3811.

Grace graduated from the kindergarten co-teaching classroom at Blue Point Elementary last school year.

Her health battle is documented in an award-winning video her two older siblings created as part of Academy Street Elementary’s Reflections program, with the theme of diversity, last Spring.

Older brother John Paul and sister Katherine won an Award of Excellence on the Suffolk County level for their creation entitled “Diversity Means Dravet.”

"They actually played their DVD at the ceremony; we were so excited and touched," said Carolann. 

John Paul and Katherine's entry was among 550 entries statewide to reach the NYS PTA level of Reflections judging. Nearly 20,000 students throughout New York participated in Reflections this year.

"We are very proud of how our children placed and of course having them raise awareness for their sister Grace's illness. They made the video mostly because our lives are very diverse having a very sick child, but we also have a very rewarding life as well,” said LaFountain.

“They were just so excited about expressing our life circumstance and how it impacts our daily lives.”