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 create and fund a foundation benefitting EMS/First Responders and other significant, locally based community projects. 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 created. 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