Warrior Jace Thompson Foundation-Drive Out DIPG

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Warrior Jace Thompson Foundation-Drive Out DIPG Jace Kinley Thompson, Stanly County, North Carolina 5 year old. Diagnosed with DIPG at the age of 4. Upon diagnosis, DIPG is a death sentence.

He was courageous and bravely fought DIPG for 347 leaving us on October 5, 2018. Our mission is to raise awareness and funding for DIPG Clinical Trials Jace Kinley Thompson was a typical active little boy who loved life, loved his family, pancakes, the beach, the woods and anything equipped with wheels. Jace’s smile was captivating, and he loved to meet strangers. He was four years old when he was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma…DIPG. DIPG is an aggressive, pediatric brain tumor that attacks and attaches itself to the brain stem…there is NO cure. Jace courageously fought this horrific disease for 347 days. He never complained during the entire ordeal; he never quit, never gave up. He always had a smile for everyone. During his courageous fight, thousands of people grew to love Jace; they followed his story and prayed for him without ceasing. After 347 days, the evil DIPG tumor finally destroyed his ability to smile, to walk, to speak, to sit up, to hear, to swallow, and finally to breathe. As it does with all victims, most of whom are young children, DIPG steals all physical capabilities leaving the child’s mental and cognizant abilities untouched. They are very aware that they are trapped inside a failing body. Jace left us when he was only five years old. In honor of his unwavering and courageous spirit in fighting the most deadly and horrific of all pediatric cancers, the Warrior Jace Foundation was created in 2019. Our publicly stated mission is to raise awareness of DIPG and to raise funds specifically dedicated to research designed to develop better treatment options and to ultimately find a cure for DIPG. There are many doctors and scientists dedicated to this cause; however, they are severely limited in their research efforts and in their clinical trials because of insufficient funding dedicated to their specific research into DIPG. Current research trials dedicated to DIPG are mostly funded by private donations and grants from small family foundations. In fact, research into ALL pediatric cancers receives only 4% annually of all the cancer research funds granted by the National Cancer Institute which is a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). Most of these funds are given to pediatric research hospitals such various larger known hospitals who lobby continuously for both private and public funds. These hospitals work hard to find cures for many types of pediatric cancers, but DIPG has NEVER been a focus of their research. Jace did not deserve to die at the age of five years old…neither do the hundreds of other children who are killed every year by DIPG. Jace’s kind and loving spirit lives on. His work on this earth is not finished. Though his life was short, his story continues. Through the Warrior Jace Foundation, we will continue to work diligently to give children diagnosed with DIPG a chance to live.

This is DIPG. October 5th, 2018 at 7:20pm 🥹🥹💔💔
10/05/2026

This is DIPG. October 5th, 2018 at 7:20pm 🥹🥹💔💔

This was day 346 of Jace’s battle…🥹💔
10/05/2026

This was day 346 of Jace’s battle…🥹💔

My interview with Kaitlin Wright Meteorologist about Pediatric Awareness Month. Beautifully presented for our brave chil...
10/01/2026

My interview with Kaitlin Wright Meteorologist about Pediatric Awareness Month. Beautifully presented for our brave children who deserve a whole lot more attention. So beyond grateful for saying yes to letting me speak of Jace, DIPG and pediatric cancer month. 💚👍🏼🦉🎗️💛🩶WCCB TV's Morgan Fogarty WCCB Charlotte's CW

Jace Kinley Thompson from Stanly County was diagnosed with DIPG, a terminal pediatric brain cancer, at the age of four.

Check out where I spent my morning!!! Talking about DIPG, Jace and Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month!!! Thank you, Kaitli...
09/30/2026

Check out where I spent my morning!!! Talking about DIPG, Jace and Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month!!! Thank you, Kaitlin Wright Meteorologist WCCB Charlotte's CW and WCCB TV's Morgan Fogarty for saying yes to my request to talk about the importance of this month!!! September is a big month for pediatric cancer parents and we want the world to learn more about what innocent children battle every day. Go gold!! Education and awareness and funding is desperately needed for our children. 👍🏼🦉💚🩶💛🎗️

A few more….💚👍🏼🦉🎗️🩶💛
09/29/2026

A few more….💚👍🏼🦉🎗️🩶💛

All the photos are now available from Jace’s 5k run/1 mile walk on the runway. It was a beautiful day 💚👍🏼🦉🎗️
09/29/2026

All the photos are now available from Jace’s 5k run/1 mile walk on the runway. It was a beautiful day 💚👍🏼🦉🎗️

Jace's 5k on the Runway for Warrior Jace Thompson is on Saturday September 26, 2026. It includes the following events: Jace's 5k, 1k Walk, and Virtual 5k.

09/28/2026

Jace’s mommy speaking with the 5k runners/1 mile walk group!! It was a beautiful Stanly County morning at the Stanly County Airport (KVUJ) 💚🦉👍🏼🎗️

Our 4th Jace’s 5k on the runaway was our best one yet. The weather could NOT have been any more perfect or beautiful. A ...
09/27/2026

Our 4th Jace’s 5k on the runaway was our best one yet. The weather could NOT have been any more perfect or beautiful. A HUGE thank you to the staff at the Stanly County Airport (KVUJ), the National Guard, Jason and his son, the walkers, runners and sponsors. Thank you all for allowing us to share Jace with you and for you choosing to spend your Saturday morning with us for a precious little boy most of you never knew. For my mommy heart, that is big. 💚🦉👍🏼🎗️💛🩶 **if you have pictures from the event, please add them in the comments if you don’t mind**

09/27/2026

💚 From the bottom of our hearts… thank you. 💚

To every person who showed up in person and every person who participated virtually in Jace’s 5K & 1 Mile Walk on the Runway, thank you. We truly cannot put into words what your support means to our family.

To our incredible sponsors, thank you for believing in our mission and helping us continue to tell Jace’s story. To our family and friends who continue to stand beside us, support us, share our posts, volunteer, encourage us, and show up when it matters, thank you for loving Jace and loving us.

And to all of our runners and walkers, especially those who have been with us since our very first 5K…thank you for coming back year after year. Seeing so many familiar faces, along with so many new ones, means more than you know. You have helped make this event something we look forward to every year, and we hope to see it grow even bigger next year. 🦉💚

We also want to remind everyone what this event is truly about!!

Yes, we want this to be a fun event. We want you to challenge yourself, chase a PR, run hard, walk with friends, laugh, make memories, and enjoy being together. And we absolutely celebrate those who come ready to compete.

But at the heart of this 5K is a little boy.

A five-year-old boy who was diagnosed with DIPG.
A five-year-old boy who fought a battle no child should ever have to fight.
A five-year-old boy who should still be here.

This is a nonprofit event, and every dollar, every mile, every registration, every sponsorship, every share, and every person who shows up helps us continue the work we believe is so important; raising awareness of DIPG and supporting the fight for better treatments and, one day, a cure.

So while we’re running for times and walking for fun, let’s never forget why we are there.

💚We are there for Jace.
💛We are there for the children who are still fighting.
🎗️We are there for the families who are walking through the unimaginable.
🦉And we are there for the children who never got the chance to finish their race.

Missing Jace doesn’t get easier. We still feel his absence in ways that are impossible to explain. But we will forever fight to keep his name alive. We will keep telling his story. We will keep saying his name. We will keep bringing his life into the spaces he should still be in.

Because Jace was here. He did live. He still matters. And we will never, ever let the world forget him.

Thank you for helping us carry him forward. Thank you for helping us turn our grief into purpose. And thank you for showing us, once again, just how many people are willing to Love Like Jace. 💚

Until next year…
Eric, Jennifer, Blake and Jace

💚👍🏼🦉🎗️🩶💛

Let’s run or walk for Jace tomorrow. I know Jace is grateful for all of those who help keep his memory alive and fight a...
09/26/2026

Let’s run or walk for Jace tomorrow. I know Jace is grateful for all of those who help keep his memory alive and fight against DIPG. Join us if you can. You’ll be done early enough to enjoy your Saturday. www.warriorjace.org/events

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Stanly County, NC
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