Youth Ambassadors

Greta Baier serves as a youth ambassador for A Foundation Building Strength for Nemaline Myopathy.  Greta was diagnosed with NM at 20 months and is affected by the NEB gene.  Some of Greta’s best memories are at NM conferences, summer gatherings her family has hosted, and cheering on the AFBS charity team during the NYC marathon weekend. 

A high schooler in New York City, her favorite subjects are math and science.   Some of her favorite things to do are dance (she dances with Born Dancing, an inclusive dance company), sing, blog (https://gretability.blog/), go to Broadway shows, try out new restaurants in the city, and travel. She also enjoys hanging out with her friends and her Canine Companions service dog, Midas. 

In 2021, Greta was named 1 of 10 middle school finalists in the NPR Student Podcast Challenge where she focused on the importance of inclusive dance.  In the future, she hopes to work in tech and to advocate for people with disabilities.

Ellary serves as a youth ambassador for A Foundation Building Strength for Nemaline Myopathy. Ellary was diagnosed with NM at 1 month of age and is affected by the ACTA-1 gene.

Some of Ellary’s favorite things to do are hang out with friends and family, sing, go swimming and go boating. Her favorite subjects in school are ELA and History. In the future she would like to go to college and work in filmmaking. 

Kate Mitchell was a beloved youth ambassador for A Foundation Building Strength for Nemaline Myopathy. Diagnosed with NM at the age of two, Kate was a shining example of resilience, kindness, and determination. She generously shared her experiences living with NM caused by the NEB gene, inspiring countless young individuals and families within the community.

A creative spirit with a passion for the arts, Kate enjoyed spending time with friends, watching movies, baking, and listening to music by artists like Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift, and Dominic Fike. She recently graduated from a high school in suburban Chicago, where she excelled in Latin and Creative Writing and was actively involved in theatre, both in production and as a member of the program’s executive board.

Kate had recently begun attending NYU and had dreams of pursuing a career in the film industry, where she hoped to advocate for disabled representation and inclusion. Though her time was tragically cut short, Kate’s legacy of strength, compassion, and advocacy will continue to inspire us all.

We are deeply grateful for Kate’s contributions to A Foundation Building Strength and the Nemaline Myopathy community. Her memory will forever be a source of inspiration.