When Barbra Streisand released “Don’t Rain on My Parade” in 1968, little did she know that some 57 years later the song would serve as the rallying cry for an 18-year-old cancer survivor who performed at Radio City Music Hall April 8 in the Garden of Dreams Foundation‘s “Dreams of Tomorrow” Talent Show.
Stone Harbor summer resident, Camden Catholic High School senior and singer Grace Martin is 18 months out from brain surgery in which a cancerous tumor was removed, followed by proton therapy at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Not only has she returned to school and her activities, she is determined to give forward to others.
“When I decided I was going to sing at the talent show, I knew I needed to find a musical theater song that I enjoyed singing and had a great message that could be understood out of the context of the show,” Martin said. “So I literally googled ‘Best musical theater solos for women,’ and it was one of the first songs that came up.
“I had remembered when I watched my first voice teacher sing it back when I was in fourth grade, and I had absolutely loved it. When I listened to it again, it felt perfect. The lyrics really related to me and my journey, especially when she said ‘I’m gonna live and live now.’
“It felt very triumphant and powerful, and even though I went through a very hard time, nothing is going to rain on my parade.”
The Garden of Dreams Foundation helps young people facing illness, financial challenges or the death or injury of a family member in uniform to experience joy and build successful futures. In partnership with MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports and Sphere Entertainment, it provides access to world-class events and places, scholarships, mentorships and other educational opportunities.
In fact, while she was in New York City April 3 for talent show rehearsals, Martin was presented with a $60,000 Inspire Scholarship by the foundation. Each year it grants $60,000 Inspire Scholarships to 15 high school seniors to be used across four years at the college or trade school of their choice. Since 2015, Garden of Dreams has awarded nearly $6 million in scholarships.
“Just having the chance to perform there made it really special,” Martin said after the performance. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at Radio City. When I was singing, I was so in the moment and just filled with joy because I was doing what I loved, and I had my beautiful dress and hair and makeup all done. I felt like a star.
“It was really amazing getting to know the other kids and the people behind the scenes, too. I loved watching the other kids, who all became my friends, have that same happiness that I did. Everyone was so kind and supportive, too. It was just a magical night.”
For Martin, “everyone who is part of the Garden of Dreams Talent Show is amazing. I look at all the kids who are performing, in the audience, participating, and we are all grateful to be there. It’s not just a talent show, it’s a show of the strength everyone has exhibited to push through their challenge to get to the other side.”
Martin likes to “think positive, and look for the happiness and joy in the world. I’m blessed to be alive, and having had this experience, I want to give back. Everyone who is part of this is an inspiration. I wanted to give back, but have gotten so much more in return.”
She was 9 years old when she decided to lift the spirits of those with cancer and other health issues. The husband of one of her teachers had cancer, and she wanted to do something for him. She collected shells on the beach, painted them and included a message of hope on them.
“I put a string on the shell so it could be hung, and hoped that when he saw it, it would give him hope,” she said. “I did the same thing for my best friend’s mom, who also had cancer. I wanted to help others even back then.”
That Christmas season, Martin was standing outside a store when she noticed some people on the street without coats or blankets in the cold weather. Realizing how comfortable she was in her warm coat and hat, she decided to do something about their plight.
“It was just two weeks before Christmas, and I asked my Mom if we could do a clothing drive,” she said, “and she said, ‘Let’s do it.’ So I wrote a letter explaining what I wanted to do, attached it to a trash bag with a candy cane, and asked my neighbors to donate any gently used clothing. We picked up 30 bags that first year.”
Since then, friends and family have joined in the effort, and more than 1,500 bags have been donated since 2015. She initially donated the clothes to the Christian Caring Center, eventually expanding her collection to include Christmas gifts for children from the center. When the Caring Center closed its thrift store, she donated the items to the Volunteers in Medicine, Court House, for distribution in Cape May County.
In September 2023 Martin was diagnosed with a brain tumor. “There are only three ways to treat it: re-section, chemotheraphy and/or radiation,” she said. “Only 4% of the federal cancer budget is allocated to pediatric cancer research. We need to do better.”
So now, much of her fundraising effort is geared to pediatric cancer research and the skilled medical providers who treated her. The Harbor Hustle, a 5K run sponsored by the Stone Harbor Property Owners Association, is one upcoming fundraiser, and Martin hopes to plan more.
In the meantime, her Shells of Hope Inc., a nonprofit with the mission of helping the underprivileged and those suffering from cancer, became a reality. She hopes her story can inspire others to make a difference to those in need.
Martin had her 17th birthday undergoing surgery, and her 18th in Hawaii. As a recipient of a Make-A-Wish Foundation award, she and her family celebrated her first year’s anniversary following surgery in the islands.
“It was a healing experience,” she said. “It had been a rough struggle, and the trip gave us some happiness and ability to live and enjoy life. I want to give back to the organization as well, live my life and have great experiences.”
She will undergo an annual MRI for the rest of her life as a result of her brain cancer.
Although she is busy with volunteering, she stands out academically as well. She is among the top in her class of 145 and has plans to attend college in the fall as a biochemistry major. She’s in the final days of deciding between Villanova University, St. Joseph’s University or the University of Pennsylvania, a choice made more difficult by her selection for a Villanova University Presidential Scholarship, providing a full four-year scholarship that includes tuition, on-campus housing, meals and books.
Martin continues to pursue her dreams using her performing arts talents. She recently completed her run as Mae Tuck in the 103rd Camden Catholic High School spring musical, “Tuck Everlasting,” and she continues to star in theater productions throughout the area. She is a resident of Medford and is ever-present throughout the summer at her family business, 7 Mile Island Players, a summer theater youth group.
“I’ve loved to sing and perform since I was about 6,” she said. She’s performed in about 35 shows over the years.
She said her auditions leading up to being selected for the Radio City show were fun. The annual Garden of Dreams Talent Show is the foundation’s signature event, featuring more than 150 young people from various foundation partners, who are given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate their talents and perform on the Great Stage at Radio City.
“Throughout the audition and rehearsal process for the Garden of Dreams show, I had the opportunity to learn from renowned performing artists A Boogie (rapper, singer and songwriter), Darryl DMC McDaniels (founder of Run DMC and pioneer of hip-hop), Marc Roberge (lead singer of O.A.R.), Chloe Flower (American composer, writer, producer and classical pianist) and the Radio City Rockettes,” she said.
Her mom, Kim, said, “It’s amazing to see how God is using this, the hardest thing we’ve ever had to deal with. It’s been challenging as a parent to find something positive and good in all of it, so this experience has helped me, too.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity to see other kids in similar situations thrive. Grace is genuine, she’s authentic, she’s kind, compassionate and understanding. We wanted to give back, but have ended up getting so much more.”
Contact the reporter, Karen Knight, at kknight@cmcherald.com.
