10-Year-Old Hero Meets Lightning Hockey Player

Gracie Langton is a local hero, and she was congratulated March 27 by Tampa Bay Lightning Center Steven Stamkos.

Stamkos is the “spokeschampion” for Kids are Heroes, an annual campaign organized by St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital that recognizes kids between the ages of 5 and 18 from Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Hernando and Manatee counties who have performed heroic deeds, or displayed acts of selflessness and demonstrated good citizenship.

Gracie, 10, a fourth-grader at Tampa Palms Elementary School, was nominated for a Kids Are Heroes award by her mother, Deanne Langton. Deanne said Gracie saved her life by persuading her to wear a bike helmet during their regular rides through their Tampa Palms neighborhood.

The day after Gracie encouraged her mom to wear the helmet, a vehicle pulled out in front of the pair while they were on their bikes, and they both braked abruptly. Gracie stopped without any issues. Deanne, on the other hand, flew over her handlebars and landed on her head. She suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung. She has several scars on her hand, ear and back.

“I believe my life would be completely different if (Gracie’s) words and actions had been different,” she told New Tampa Patch in February.

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St. Joseph’s has run the Kids Are Heroes campaign since 1996 and has recognized more than 1,400 kids. This year, a record 170 kids were nominated, said Jacqueline Tolley, media relations coordinator for BayCare Health System.

Every child nominated received recognition at the March 27 ceremony, and the first-, second- and third-place winners in each age group (5-8, 9-12 and 13-18) received special gifts from St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and participating sponsors.

Gracie didn’t win, but she still had fun at the ceremony, Deanne said.

“Regardless, Gracie had a wonderful time,” Deanne said. “She brought a friend of hers, Kathie Mathews, and was excited to meet Stamkos of the Lightning.”

See also:

• Tampa Palms 10-Year-Old Saves Mom’s Life