Community Involvement

During my reign as Miss Jacksonville Teen USA 2012, I am promoting Breast Cancer prevention and awareness. I plan to help raise funding for the cure of breast cancer. It is my hope to bring my passion to this cause by working with the Susan G Komen organization; so we can make a contribution to this battle of women against this cancer. This is very close to my heart because my Mother is a breast cancer survivor. She had it twice and beat it twice, and I want to help save more women so they can also survive it like my Mom.

LINKS

Susan G. Komen For The Cure Website

How To Make A Difference

How To Donate

EMILY'S STORY

       Although I am not a runner or a jogger, I am committed to the race for life. I don’t just mean any race though; I am talking about the race for the cure of breast cancer. Whether you’re a son, daughter, aunt or uncle I am sure breast cancer has affected you either directly or indirectly. It’s a fact that every1 in 8 women get diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. For me it was my great grandmother and mother and here is my story.      

       Little did I know that my mom’s battle against breast cancer began in 2005. As I was enjoying being a middle school student, my mom was finding out she had breast cancer for the first time. My mom thought little to concern me because the doctors felt because the cancer was diagnosed early, that the prognosis would be good. After 33 treatments of radiation, and a mammogram later, my mother decided to tell me about her experience. I was surprised and very worried of course, but her story was inspiring to me, so I reached out and did some research on my own. My research proved very beneficial because I understood how prevalent this cancer really was, but that if caught early there was a way to fight it! Not long after, I chose to do my academic fair project on the importance of early detection of breast cancer. It was quite uncomfortable presenting my project on such a mature topic, for most of the middle school boys didn’t understand and were pretty embarrassed. Looking back, I’m glad I did that project because that was the first step for me becoming an advocate for my mom.                                                                 

       Only two years later after another mammogram, my mom found out that she had a reoccurrence of breast cancer. This time, no chances were to be taken and right away it was decided she was to have a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Being only an 8th grader it was hard for me to watch my mom go through this. She had an 8 hour surgery and was very exhausted for days after but before long I was helping her recover and she was back on her feet in no time! It was truly amazing to see what the doctors could do and to this day you wouldn’t even know my mom ever had breast cancer. She was so brave and she taught me that early detection can and will save your life. Yet, at the very same time we knew people that were fighting breast cancer and lost the fight.

        I always worried that my mom was just telling me everything was fine, but today  she stands beside me and proves that she won the battle and is thankful be in remission since 2007. I truly believe that this cancer can be beaten so this is why I chose to join in the fight against breast cancer with the Susan G. Komen organization. I am taking this challenge to my high school in hopes of getting more students aware and excited about this cause, and how we can help as young people. I know I am not the only one who has been affected by breast cancer and I’m sure that many of them have a story similar to mine. I am blessed to be able to say that my mom and I will be walking together over that finish line, hand in hand. I hope we can join the hands of other survivors and victims’ of this cancer, and continue to contribute to such an important cause!