making strides.

On Sunday, October 21st, I volunteered at the Staten Island Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Clove Lakes Park! It was such a beautiful day for families, friends, survivors, and women to get together for a great cause.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is very dear to my heart for many reasons. One of them is that with a family member fighting through breast cancer today, it so inspiring to see so many women tell their story and share how they overcame their struggles.

Another reason is that for my sweet sixteen, I chose to raise money for the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. A sweet sixteen is a coming-of-age. It's a time when you transform into a young woman. Along with my family and friends, we raised over $2,000 for breast cancer research, treatment, and awareness. The day of the walk, we should up to find Sweet Sixteen decorations everywhere! It happened to be the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer's 16th year on Staten Island. It was such a fun coincidence!

This year, I was behind the table volunteering by asking walkers to sign a petition to Congress to continue funding for cancer research. It is a movement called "Power of the Purse."It was great to see so many people sign the petition and share their own stories so that Congress can see what a positive impact their funding has had on cancer patients and their families.

The entire event was so movement and inspiring. Being able to talk to people about their experiences was so powerful. I cannot thank National American Miss for helping me develop my communication skills. Being able to share these experiences with people is so special to me.

I had such a great time Making Strides! For more information on how you can donate please visit:
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY13_FindAnEvent


Here is a little information from the American Cancer Society:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 36. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

For more information about breast cancer, how to find it early, and how to join the fight to end the disease, visit cancer.org/fightbreastcancer or contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 anytime, day or night.

Since Making Strides began 20 years ago, breast cancer death rates have declined more than 32 percent.

“I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.” 

― Barack Obama

-Shelley 

shining in the rain.

     On October 7th, my sister queens and I headed to the Lindenhurst Oktoberfest to raise money for the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition. Though it starting raining, it didn't stop our fun and fundraising efforts! We had our fair share of pickles, coffee, rain, and wind, but also got to advocate for this great organization!
     We were interviewed by the Lindenhurst Patch:
http://lindenhurst.patch.com/articles/video-photos-lindy-enjoys-oktoberfest-2012-despite-rain#video-11655376 (you can find us towards the end of the video!).
     This was also the first time that ALL 6 sister queens were together: Amya, Joli, Dominique, Katie, me, and Kira. We even met little Gracie who is competing in her first NAM pageant next year.
  We had a blast raising money for the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, being a part of the festival, and getting to bond with one another!

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.”

-  G. K. Chesterton  - Shelley

I'm Voting.

     National American Miss teaches girls about the values and ideals of being a good citizen, role model, and individual. About being confident in yourself and your abilities. Not be ignorant of your flaws, but embrace them and be on a path to fix them. To grow and learn from each experience.
    This empowerment is especially important in this election year. We should be ready to stand up for what we believe in and go out and have our voice heard. We should be informed, aware, and prepared. We should, if you can, register to vote!
     I am so excited that the year I turned 18, I am able to vote! I even made some of my friends register when we were near a booth at the park. I really believe that each person should be able to have a say in their future.
I challenge all the contestants, families, and friends to get informed, take a stand, and take the pledge:
https://www.facebook.com/cnn?sk=app_195983790531602
 I'm voting! Are you?

got books?

If you have any new or gently used books, donate them to S.P.A.R.K.'s annual book drive! 

If you cannot make it to Staten Island, email us at sparkselfesteem@gmail.com for a S.P.A.R.K. chapter near you!

ebc radio interview.

     I had the honor of bring interviewed on EBC Radio about National American Miss and my work with S.P.A.R.K. (Students Partnering and Reaching Kids)! 

     Radio Guru Kulraaj Anand was so awesome and hospitable. It was such a fun and interesting experience being on the radio! We talked about the benefits of National American Miss, my work with S.P.A.R.K., and my own advice to teens. 

     He was so impressed with my speaking skills (Thank you National American Miss!), that I even recorded a commercial for his radio station! 

Thank you EBC Radio and Kulraaj Anand for having me and S.P.A.R.K. on your radio show! 

Check out www.facebook.com/SPARKSelfEsteem to start your own S.P.A.R.K. club chapter! 

"An image is not simply a trademark, a design, a slogan or an easily remembered picture. It is a studiously crafted personality profile of an individual, institution, corporation, product or service."
-Daniel J. Boorstin

-Shelley