Hop for Heroes

The Celine Larson Story

Hop for Heroes is a foundation that was founded in 2018 by Celine and Chase Larson following their first-hand experience of being cared for by first responders during the most challenging of times. In 2011, Celine was diagnosed with melanoma and was determined to be in remission.

Unfortunately, Celine was later diagnosed with stage four melanoma in November 2017, which invaded her lungs, liver, and eventually her brain. Celine spent the next two years fighting for her life while facing new and different challenges and complications to the medicines and various treatments. After a valiant fight, Celine passed away December 9, 2019 at the age of 35 at home with her husband, Chase, and their four young daughters by her side. Many have been impacted by this heartbreaking story of the passing of a bright, young, vibrant woman who loved her life, her family, and her community and approached everything with enthusiasm and passion. With her outgoing personality, Celine was a person who made an impact on everyone she met, even those who were caring for her.

Throughout her devastating journey with cancer, Celine and Chase had the honor and pleasure of meeting many great people from all walks of life. One group in particular – EMS/First Responders – made an impact on the couple’s life forever. It was the first responders who provided support in some of their most difficult moments and many became close friends of the Larsons as they continued to navigate this illness in a small, tightknit community. From their home community of Belleville, to time spent in Wichita as well as Houston for cancer treatments, and all points in between, first responders were always there providing more help, comfort, and care than can be described. Celine never forgot their unselfish commitment and it had a profound and lasting impression, so much so that she and Chase established a foundation to provide financial support to the EMS/First Responders and other impactful, local community projects.

As Celine was instrumental in founding Grandpa’s Best and was its greatest promoter and cheerleader, it only seemed fitting to use the company as the pathway to fund this new foundation. Grandpa’s Best’s hay and forages, much of which is produced on the family farm, are repackaged into consumer-friendly convenient sizes for the small and exotic animal market. Rabbits represent a large share of the small pet market, hence the fitting name Hop for Heroes was given to the foundation. A portion of each sale of Grandpa’s Best products goes to fund the Hop for Heroes foundation in memory of Celine, and to provide financial support to a wonderful, well deserving group of individuals within the EMS/First Responders family as well as to local projects that benefit the city of Belleville and Republic County, Kansas.

Celine’s legacy also lives on in the newly created Celine Larson PEER Support Person of the Year award, formed in partnership between the Hop for Heroes foundation and KEMSA (Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association). This award honors an individual or team of Kansas First Responders for their diligence and perseverance in serving others, and whose service is above what is normally required or expected of someone providing Peer Support. Recognizing anyone in emergency services and first response, this award is the first of its kind in Kansas and only the third of such an award in the United States. This award represents Celine’s request to recognize those in emergency services who go above and beyond to support their teammates, exemplifying strength and honor.

Explore the Celine Larson Peer Support Person of the Year award winners at the links below. We hope their stories inspire you and help carry Celine’s legacy. Grandpa’s Best and its 501(c)3 non-profit foundation Hop for Heroes, is proud to provide recognition and financial assistance to First Responders and other worthy community projects. Join us in our mission to honor Celine’s legacy by supporting the heroes who selflessly serve our communities.