Platform: Raising Awareness for
Blood cancers in children
National Organizations: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Queen for a Day, Relay for
Life and Cinderella Society
Websites:
www.lls.org
www.queenforadaydallas.us
www.cinderellasociety.org
www.coppellrelayforlife.com
Platform Essay
I have heard it said
that you do not choose your platform, your platform chooses you. That is
very true. After participating in pageantry for many years, my platform
came to me in a dream, literally. I had been a blood cancer survivor for
almost 5 years when I dreamt that I won a pageant and because I was wearing
a crown, I was able to speak to thousands about blood cancers.
Since that day, I
have traveled the country speaking about blood cancers. I have spoken to as
little as 5 people at a Team in Training information meeting to raise money
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I have spoken to more than 5
thousand people at the Disney marathon, which raises money for the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society. I have been to Austin, Texas to speak to the
Texas Congress about blood cancer advocacy. My hope is to go to Washington D.C. next year to speak
to the National Congress.
In speaking to all of
these people, my intention is not only to raise funds for blood cancers,
but to encourage people to get involved. Right now, Leukemia is the number
one killer of people under the age of 21. Finding a cure is important, but
helping these young people cope with a disease that will follow them for
the rest of their life is equally important. That is why I became involved
in Queen for a Day.
Queen for a Day goes
to local children’s hospitals and hosts parties for the children undergoing
cancer treatments. Usually, the parties have special guests like
titleholders and police and fire fighters. The design is to make the
children forget about being in the hospital and to have fun. The parties
are also designed to raise the self-esteem of these children. Girls have
makeovers and manicures and receive boas and tiaras. Boys get to dress up
in fire fighter and police uniforms. They become “Queen” and “Hero” for a
day. I was so inspired by this program that I became a chapter director.
Since then, I have sponsored 6 new chapters around the country and have
become the Executive Director of Cinderella Society, which follows the same
philosophies as Queen for a Day.
Through the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society, Queen for a Day and Cinderella Society, my dream came
true. I am touching, changing thousands of lives by sharing my story, by
inspiring people to take action. My platform came to me in a dream that
changed my life forever and the wheels that have been set into action will
not slow down until a cure is found.
