The Celine Larson PEER Support Award

The legacy of Grandpa’s Best family member Celine Larson was commemorated at the KEMSA (Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association) conference awards banquet on August 13, 2022 with the creation of a new award in her name – the Celine Larson PEER Support Award. This new award established in partnership with the Hop for Heroes Foundation was created to honor an individual or team of Kansas first responders for their diligence and perseverance in serving others. The awarded individual was also recognized for service above what is normally required or expected of someone providing peer support. The inaugural recipient of this award was Frank Williams, EMS Chief of Butler County Emergency Medical Services and Program Director of LifeSave Transport. This award is the first of its kind in Kansas and only the third of such an award in the United States.

The Celine Larson PEER Support Award remembers the legacy of Celine Larson, daughter of Russell and Lindsey Carlson. Celine was diagnosed with melanoma in 2011 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 on December 9, 2019 at the age of 35 at home with her husband, Chase, and their four young daughters by her side. With her outgoing personality, Celine was a person who made an impact on everyone she met, even those who were caring for her.

One group in particular – EMS/First Responders – made an impact on the Larsons’ life forever. It was the first responders who provided support them 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. Celine never forgot their unselfish commitment and it had a profound and lasting impression, so much so that she and Chase established the Hop for Heroes Foundation in 2018 which benefits EMS/First Responders and other impactful, local community projects. A portion of every sale at Grandpa’s Best – a company Chase and Celine helped create – funds Hop for Heroes, providing support to a wonderful, well deserving group of individuals.

The inaugural recipient of this award was El Dorado, Kansas native Frank Williams. Frank first met the Larson family during a flight from Houston where Celine would be undergoing cancer treatment. Through a series of events, Celine and Frank sat next to each other on the plane and an immediate friendship was formed. From that time on, Frank became a living guardian angel to the Larsons, always a phone call away to answer the multitude of medical questions the couple faced at all hours of the day and night as well as a source of emotional support through each phase of Celine’s battle with cancer. The Larsons would forever be thankful for the guidance he provided them, as well as his act of love for the family in driving over 300 miles to see Celine before her passing. Frank continues to impact those around him in his service as EMS Chief of Butler County Emergency Medical Services and Program Director of LifeSave Transport, a critical care ambulance service that safely provides rapid access for critically ill or injured patients to tertiary care. In addition to an engraved ten-inch tower award given to Frank Williams, the Hop for Heroes foundation also awarded him a check for $2,500.

Present at the awards banquet was Celine’s loving family – her husband, Chase; their four incredible daughters Tess, Wynn, Sadie, and Fern; Celine’s parents Russell and Lindsey Carlson; and Chase’s parents Thayne and Jeanne Larson. Frank Williams was also in attendance as was Lisa Melton, a nurse who sparked an immediate friendship with Celine and helped provide support from the beginning diagnosis to end-of-life care to Celine in her final weeks, and her husband Jared Melton.

For more information on the Hop for Heroes foundation, please visit our website.