Day 276: Battling For Bridger & Bella

A friend of ours posted this page on Facebook a little earlier this afternoon. I strongly advise everyone to take a look and donate if at all possible. Two 4 year old cousins, Bridger and Bella, are currently fighting cancer. Bridger was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma in July 2013 and Bella was diagnosed  in August 2013 with Leukemia. The family is now asking for donations and every little bit counts. To donate and read more about the two you can visit this page. Even if you can donate a $1, I am sure it will be appreciated. These kids are local kids and friends of a friend, so I scrounged up $10 of my own to help.

In addition, they are also having a pancake feed at Applebee's in Kennewick on October 12th from 8:00am-10:00am. Tickets are $10. The meal includes pancakes, sasuage, scrambled eggs, and coffee, milk or a soft drink. For tickets please contact Christian Moran at (509)727-3193 or cutiepiecoop@hotmail.com.

God bless,

Kailee

Day 244: Turned the Town Teal

September is ovarian cancer awareness month. And the ladies with the local chapter known as Ovarian Cancer TOGETHER are doing just that...spreading awareness. It all started a few days ago, when the iconic Cable Bridge had, for the first time, changed the color of lights on the bridge to teal. Each evening in September, when the bridges lights illuminate, those in sight will be reminded that this month we fight a bit harder for those fighting this horrible cancer. Click here for more on the local chapter.

(Photo credit: Tri-City Herald)

Tonight, it was Gesa Stadium's chance to turn teal. Several ladies from the chapter and a group of veterans on motorcycles arrived early at the stadium to decorate with teal balloons, ribbons and bows wherever the eye could see. While setting up their table seen below, I had the chance to speak to a few women who have either fought ovarian cancer or are fighting and donate a few dollars to their organization. I had an incredible conversation with them talking about their upcoming plans for the month and mainly about the disease itself. I learned so much, but the one fact that struck me the most is there is a cure for this cancer if caught early enough. So, these women are largely focusing on spreading awareness of the symptoms and supporting those affected by ovarian cancer.  

President and Founder of the organization, Kay Kerbyson, informed me that ovarian cancer is unfortunately being found in younger women. Some even as young as 20. In past years, it has commonly been found in women in their 40's, but now young ladies need to be aware of the symptoms as well. She also mentioned that the survival rate is just around 95% if found early enough. 

The symptoms can include; bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, and urinary frequency. 

                                        

Below is a list of several other places where they are "tealing the Tri-Cities" and spreading awareness. 

• September 2 @ 9:00AM- Teal a Tree in Kennewick (Meet @ Washington & Kennewick Ave.)
• Septermber 3 @ 10:00AM- Teal a Tree in Richland (Meet @ John Dam Plaza)
• September 7- Walmart in Richland
• September 7 @ 2:00PM- Healed with a Kiss (Hedges Family Estate Winery)
• September 20- Yoke's in Kennewick

Lastly, I just wanted to mention that 2 out of 3 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die. This could be preventable if you listen to your body and know the symptoms. Show you care, be aware. 

God bless,

Kailee

Day 220: Miracle Treat Day

It is one of my favorite days! A day to eat ice cream and support a children's hospital!

As many of you know, I have a very special place in my heart for Children's Miracle Network. CMN and Dairy Queen are in partnership and each year they run 'Miracle Treat Day.' On this day, DQ will sell millions of blizzards and $1 of each of those blizzards will be donated to CMN. Last year, DQ raised over 6 million dollars!

Naturally, my family and I went to Dairy Queen after dinner. We each bought a scrumptious blizzard. I tried the S'mores blizzard (and I was a fan)! The Dairy Queen we visited was hoping to raise $5000 and they were about 60% there at 6:30PM. I hope they were able to reach their goal. Needless to say, however, I am sure that the money raised nationwide is substantial. In addition, everyone who took part thoroughly enjoyed their dessert!

I can't wait for next year! 

God bless,

Kailee

(Even Lacy loves blizzards!)

Day 217: Bought A Freckled Lemonade

Last week, I received an email from Red Robin (yum!) about not only getting $3.00 off my purchase of a freckled lemonade, but also about their partnership with Alex's Lemonade Stand- fighting childhood cancer. For every freckled lemonade bought, Red Robin will donate 5 cents to Alex's Lemonade Stand. Now, 5 cents doesn't seem like too much, but while enjoying my meal there were at least 10 freckled lemonades ordered around us.

Naturally, after seeing the email about lemonade and Red Robin, it had been on my mind and sounding tasty! This afternoon when my mom asked if I'd like to go to lunch, it took only a minute to say yes. Both my brother and I ordered freckled lemonade (there's 10 cents right there). It is to my knowledge that this partnership will last, so next time you are eating at Red Robin, order yourself a refreshing strawberry lemonade. However, if you happen to visit before the 15th of August, you will get your lemonade for a mere 99 cents! Lemonade and helping fight childhood cancer...there's nothing better. 

God bless,

Kailee

Day 155: Chipped In For Kids To Go To Camp

Finals, finals, finals...you got to love them, but boy do they take up a lot of time. With that said, I need to keep this short. Today, Brooke Burke-Charvet tweeted about an opportunity to donate a few dollars so that children with cancer could attend summer camp. You can learn more and donate by clicking here. Below is an excerpt taken from the website written by Brooke:

Sunrise Day Camp is the first and only full summer dedicated day camp in the nation for children with cancer and their siblings. Sunrise and its year round programs are offered free of charge on a non-sectarian basis. Our programs are designed to meet the emotional, social, recreational and physical needs of the children while allowing them to continue their medical treatment and enjoy the comfort and safety of their own homes at night. Children, who are often isolated from the normal experiences of childhood due to their disease – now have found a community that offers them not only a summer camp experience, but year round programs all offered completely free of charge.

As a cancer survivor myself and a mommy of 4, this camp both breaks and warms my heart. But the work this camp does – both in the summer and throughout the year – is indisputable. Sunrise gives back laughter, Sunrise gives back joy . . .Sunrise gives back hope. As the new Celebrity Spokesperson for Sunrise, I am proud to add my name and my energies to this wondrous project. And although I cannot be at the actual walk, my family and I will be walking virtually here in California. I hope you will support our efforts by making a donation to support these beautiful children, or even better, join my team (Brooke Burke’s Sunrisers!) and reach out to your friends and family as well. Together, we can change the world for these kids.

How incredible. I love everything about this. I hope everyone is having a fantastic week and those still in school (like me) are getting through dead week and finals!

God bless,

Kailee 

Day 137: Raised Money For A Child With Cancer

Cancer sucks, period. Together we fight, strive to find a cure and raise money for those in need when we can. This afternoon I was able to fundraise for a 8 year old girl from Pasco who is battling rhabdomyosarcoma. Never heard of it? Neither had I. After learning a little more about it, I found out that it is a cancer that usually develops in skeletal muscles. Specifically, this young lady has alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, which forms typically in older children's legs or arms.

A few girls and I staked out at Walmart and asked for donations for Sarah's medical bills and traveling expenses. In return, the donor would receive autograph cards from the three Miss America titleholders there helping and a wristband. The band is like the one below and read, "charity never faileth." The phrase was chosen by the young girl fighting cancer and the coral colored bands are her favorite color. Overall, we raised over $300 and received donations from people from all walks of life.

Why I love events like this is because I am fortunate to meet incredible people and listen to their stories. Several people today donated because they had lost someone, or had battled cancer themselves. How incredible it is to see everyone stand as one and fight for a common goal. The best part of the day was when a young girl walked up to the table and said, "how much do I have to pay you for an autograph and bracelet?" (For both we were asking $5) When Janae explained, the little girl said, "Oh, what can I get for $1? That is all I have?" Of course we were not going to turn her away empty handed. I purchased a bracelet minutes before hand and took mine off and gave her mine and Janae and I gave her autographs. She lit up and I just knew that meant so much to her. God bless eveyone who stopped to learn more about Sarah and who donated!

On a side note, Austin and I also ran the Glow Run 5K this evening. The registration fee went to the American Cancer Society. It was so much fun and they raised over $30,000! Together we are all fighting to kick cancers booty!

God bless,

Kailee

Day 82: Prayed For A Cure

As mentioned yesterday, this is another crazy weekend. Congratulations to the new Miss East Cascades! Tomorrow two more young ladies will pass on their crowns. One of those girls is Miss Catherine Watters.

Meet Catherine Watters, Miss Columbia Basin 2012

What is the title of your platform?
CW: My platform is called eliminating cancer, volunteering for a cure.

How can others get involved with your platform?
CW: Just talk to someone that is going through cancer treatments, especially elders. They are extremeley lonely. 

Why did you choose your particular platform?
CW: My grandma passed away from cancer. 





(Photo credit: Natalie Cruz)

Cancer, for a lack of a better word, sucks. Unfortunately, I think that it is safe to say, we all have personally known someone who has had cancer, or has known someone close to someone with cancer. As Catherine made evident, it is important to keep them in our thoughts and keep in touch with them as they go through difficult times. This weekend I am out of town and busy as a bee. What I have done, and encourage all of you to do, is to simply take a moment and pray for someone you know of, have heard of, or cancer patients in general. Even if you don't have the opportunity to speak directly to the person going through treatment, that doesn't mean the big man upstairs isn't listening.

God bless,

Kailee

Day 62: Homeruns For Hope

I am doing this a little backwards, but I thought this was so cool that I had to share! Before the game started yesterday, a very special man got to run the bases as part of Homeruns For Hope! This is a program affiliated with the Cancer Centers Treatment of America.

Homeruns For Hope allows cancer survivors to walk the bases before baseball games and, in yesterday's case, throw out the first pitch! As the participant ran the bases the whole crowd stood to cheer him on. And, in my opinion, the coolest part of the whole event was when both teams approached the dirt to high five Walter as he ran by.

During the game, my mom and I stopped by their tent they had set up. There I got to meet the man who ran the bases at last years game and he gave me a magazine that he was on the cover of. He was a year free from men's breast cancer.The tent also had an enumerate amount of brochures, flyers and goodies to hand out to make others aware of the Cancer Centers of America.

Finally, after the game the audience was asked to participate in the Stroll of Honor. My family and I went on to the field and strolled the bases. Once we reached home plate, we were then asked to announce the cancer patient we were walking in honor of. (I have a video I hope to upload when I get home) It was first cool to be on the field that the Mariners and Dodgers were on, but it was even more amazing to honor our loved ones in front of the whole stadium.

While I was on the field, I met Walter and his mother! He was such an amazing guy! :)

God bless,
Kailee

Day 41: Hats Off For Cancer

Erica Scevers, a Miss Whatcom County contestant, brought this important cause to my attention. This information was taken directly from her Facebook Event- Hats off for cancer: Hat Drive 2013:
 "Since 1996, Hats off for Cancer has collected and donated over 1.5 million hats to children battling cancer.

Hats off for Cancer began as a two person operation and has grown into a nationally recognized organization. Their mission is to reach out to children battling cancer, to make a child's day a bit happier and their smile a bit brighter. "

She is hosting the hat drive now until this Sunday! She is accepting all kinds of donations from beanies to baseball caps. Below is the address where donations may be sent:

Erica Scevers
P.O. Box 657
Ferndale WA, 98248

All donations will be taken to the Seattle Children's Hospital the first week of March!

After hearing about this incredible event, I started to think if I had any unused hats laying around that would benefit others more than myself. I came up with a few and now I encourage you to do the same. Rummage around and see if you have a baseball cap that a young boy may enjoy, or a cute beanie that a little girl will look adorable in. The more the merrier!

Good luck in all your future endeavors Erica!

God bless, 

Kailee

Day 8-MAO Week: Supported St. Baldrick's

Tonight the Miss America Preliminary competition began. Each night a group of contestants will compete in different phases of compeition. At the end of each preliminary night, there will be a winner for swimwear and another for talent. I cannot wait to see who the preliminary winners are!

 A few months ago, at Miss Washington, I was so fortunate to meet two of the other titleholders. One of them being Miss Alaska, Debbe Jo Ebben. Debbe is incredibly sweet and so courageous. Her platform is St. Baldrick's Foundation, where participants and cancer patients shave their heads together. Debbe was so dedicated and brave that she shaved her long beautiful locks for this cause. 

Tonight, I bought a new coffee mug in support of the organization. You can donate and/or learn more about St. Baldrick's by clicking here. 

Watch Miss America live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Saturday January 12th! 

Have a random act of kindness you would like me to try? Comment below.

God bless, 

Kailee