This amazing life-saving venture began in Hartsville with my Blood Drive that I hosted at the First Presbyterian Church on May 19th. With my platform being "Be a Hero: Donate Blood, Save a Life," it was important for me to to not only organize and host the drive, but also be a hero myself and donate. That made my 7th pint donated since I turned 16, and now as a 19 year old, I potentially saved up to 21 lives with my 7 donations. Along with my donation at the Hartsville drive, there were also 17 other pints collected there, giving us a grand total of 18 pints collected. Though we didn't meet our donation goal, that is still 18 more pints than we had at the beginning and that is an amazing thing. With the current blood deficit that is facing our entire nation, it's more important than ever for all of us to be a hero. With only 5% of the population being eligible to be blood donors and with blood being in higher demand than ever expected, it is crucial for all of us to be life savers!
The month doesn't stop there! In between my two blood drives, I was presented with the opportunity to spend the first weekend in June with the miracle kids from McLeod's Children's Hospital in Florence! The fun started with games and dinner with the miracle kids at the weekend kick-off event and carnival on Friday night! My job was to work the frog toss game, and one of the most rewarding things was the sparkle in the eye and bright smile of a young child just from a little bit of encouragement or a small prize that comes along with a sense of accomplishment. It was a night of fun and enjoyment, and holding back tears as one of the miracle children sang a song about the angels who were watching over her as she was in a coma at the hospital. Following that event, on Saturday I volunteered at the phone bank for the CMN Telethon with WBTW Channel 13! Donors called in as they heard of the stories of hope and love that were shared by the miracle children and their families. It was amazing to be able to help the miracle makers make miracles in the hospital by graciously donating their own funds. The event was nothing short of successful, with more than $1,000,000 being collected for the children at McLeod's. Now that's a million miracles made!
I admit I believed it would be difficult to top a weekend of miracle makers, however the beginning of the weekend following the CMN weekend was certainly awe-inspiring. After months of planning and preparation, the day finally arrived for my final blood drive before Miss South Carolina: my blood drive I co-hosted with The Zone in my hometown of Manning. A whopping 78 pints of blood was collected at the drive thanks to the generosity of the abundance of blood donors. The numbers accurately reflected what a tight-knit community this truly is. When called to save lives and help others, people turn out in high numbers. I couldn't have been happier, and neither could have the Red Cross! That was the most successful the Manning drive had ever been, and I was so honored to have been able to add my own touch, bring in donors, and be a part of such a successful event. When all was said and done, between my two blood drives in Hartsville and Manning, I was able to help the American Red Cross contribute and astounding 96 pints of blood to the blood deficit. The feeling of being a blood donor is rewarding in itself, but the feeling of being a successful blood drive coordinator is even sweeter. I would like to extend my thanks to all the donors who came to save lives. This wouldn't have been possible without you all!
One of the best things about being a local queen within the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization is having the opportunity to share the mission of the Miss America Organization and all of our experiences throughout the year of our reign with others! I had one of those chances this week! I was honored to be invited to be the guest speaker at the Virginia's Pride Garden Club Annual Luncheon by the club's president, my Aunt Kathy Cramer. Not only did I speak about the foundation of the Miss America and South Carolina Organizations and all the wonderful things they do for driven young women like myself, I also spoke about my work with CMN and the recent blood drives with the Red Cross! Being able to tell of the awesome things that can happen with a little dedication, determination, and making a difference is what this is all about for me. If I can convince one person to impact a young child's life through work with CMN or get in the blood donation chair to save lives, then I feel as if I have done my job. I have found throughout my year thus far that sharing personal experiences can have the most positive results when speaking with others. My mission as Miss Greater Hartsville and, hopefully, as the next Miss South Carolina, is to inspire others to do something extraordinary with their lives, no matter how simple that something may be.
It doesn't end here! With Miss South Carolina looming not so far off in the distance, I am determined to work and make a difference until the last minute! For those of you who will be in the Hartsville area tomorrow (June 14th), I will be at Sonic in Hartsville during the afternoon collecting donations for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals with my Princess, Rebecca! I hope you all can stop by and see how easy it is to make a difference in a child's life with one donation, no matter how large or small!
If you've ever wondered why I believe I should be the next Miss South Carolina, look no further! View my video that was filmed during March Forum Weekend to find out!
If you've ever wondered why I believe I should be the next Miss South Carolina, look no further! View my video that was filmed during March Forum Weekend to find out!
Now you have the opportunity to help me! Introducing the 2012 Miss South Carolina People's Choice Awards! With a $1 vote, you could help secure me a spot in the Top 16 and enable me to compete on the final night of competition so I could work further towards my dream of being of the next Miss South Carolina! Visit https://fourpointsmagazine.com/miss-south-carolina-peoples-choice-awards to cast your vote today! Thank you in advance for your support!
