Best Buddies

I want to thank Brooke Bibeault, Miss Massachusetts Teen USA, for asking me to attend a pizza/ice cream party with the Best Buddies group she has been working with. This was my first experience with this organization and certianly not my last. The kids were just so fun and genuine, and I loved spending time with them, especially sitting in circle time and hearing everyone's name, favorite ice cream, and if they were going to be a part of Best Buddies again next year, and of course the answer was YES!

Relay for Life of Burlington

On May 21, I was part of an amazing event, the Relay for Life of Burlington. This appearance was very special to me as it brought me back to the town that I grew up in and the football field which I graduated high school on 22 years ago. It was an amazing feeling to speak to a crowd filling the football field and lining the track as the Mission and Advocacy Chair for the Burlington Chapter of Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society. I was able to share my mother's story and talk about how I became involved with Relay for life as well as talking about the wonderful programs such as Hope Lodge and The Look Good Feel Better that are offered by the American Cancer Society to patients in treatment and their families. I was also at the Mission and Advocacy Table which had numerous pieces of literature about all the programs as well as having a skin analyzer machine which drew huge crowds from kids to adults. Congratulations to the orgnaizers of this event for raising over $88,000 for the fight against cancer! I want to thank my fellow Massachusetts Queens who came out to take part in this event with me. Chistina Polanco, Miss Massachusetts Junior National Teenager, Tamara Sacharczyk, Miss Massachusetts Teen World, and Monique Jones, Ms. Massachusetts United States. I also want to thank my high school friend, Maureen Polson for being so super supportive of this event and so many others, and for coming out and working the Mission and Advocacy Table with us. Now its off to my own Relay for Life to be held in Tyngsboro on June 12.

Queen for a Day - UMass Memorial Pediatric Visit

On May 19, I was invited by Jennifer Salvitelli, the Massachusetts Director for the Queen for a Day Program, to visit the Pediatric Unit at the UMass Memorial Hosptial in Worcester, MA. Queen for a Day was started by Jenna Edwards, a former Miss Teen All American, Miss Florida America, and Miss Florida USA. This is an amazing organization that has chapters nationwide for groups to visit with children in pediatric units and take part in reading, playing, and fun art activities. Attending with me was Brooke Bibealt, Miss Massachusetts Teen USA. We met with children from the ages of 2 all the way up to 21. Some of the visits we had to put on a full outfit of mask, gloves, and smock. It was incredibly rewarding to see the smiles that we put on these children's faces as well as that of their parents. One young man in particular was actually asleep when we came by, but his mom woke him to tell him he had some special visitors, and the look on his face was priceless. Being a mom, I certainly had a soft spot in my heart for this visit as it made me appreciate Sierra and her health even more so and makes me realize how lucky we are. I look forward to having many more visits like this as it is one of my most favorite appearances thus far as Mrs. Massachusetts. I love children, and if I can make just one child smile, then it was so worth making the visit.

LGH TeamWalk for CancerCare

Finally, May 16, the day that Lowell General Hospital has worked so hard to put on the TeamWalk for CancerCare! What an amazing day with weather, and the enthusiasm of all the volunteers and walkers. I am truly honored to be part of this amazing event as the Honorary Chairperson and to speak at the opening ceremony and then to lead off the walkers on the 6 mile walk along with my daugther Sierran and husband Rob. We did this together as a family and it was incredible to see how many families were right along with us. I applaud all the LGH staff who worked so hard on this event and thank all the volunteers and walkers who made this walk a success. TeamWalk raised over $716,000, that is amazing, and the funds will go right back into the community for the patients and families that need assistance during their treatments at the Lowell General Hospital Cancer Center! I know that I will be back next year again to work with this amazing organization and event!

LGH TeamWalk Registration Day

On Saturday, May 15, I was able to meet walkers who were registering for the LGH TeamWalk to take place the very next day. It was amazing to meet more people who have been treated at the LGH Cancer Center and to hear their stories and see that they are now taking part in this amazing walk. There was one woman who heard about the walk, and presented us an envelope with a donation in her name as she is not able to walk, but wanted to make a contribution. It was so exciting to meet children that would be taking part in this walk as well with the families, it really does start in the home and becomes a wonderful thing when the young get involved in events like this. I was also take upstairs to meet the team that was busily counting up the donations received as they were coming in minute by minute. I got to get my team shirt from Kevin Campbell who is the organizer of Team JoMama, in memory of his late wife who has a similar story to my mom's. Kevin's team at this point was one of the highest fundraisers, which is so exciting to be part of for me and seeing him go out and work so hard and passionately for TeamWalk. Its going to be a great day with lots of walkers, beautiful weather, and fun festivities. I can't wait to speak at the opening ceremony and the lead the walkers as their Honorary Chairperson for TeamWalk 2010!

LGH TeamWalk Drive at Dunkin Donuts

On May 7, I had the best time working with Lowell General Hospital Staff giving out information about the LGH TeamWalk for CancerCare. I was out by the drive thru with Bruce, and let me tell you, that man doesn't need any coffee with all the enthusiasm he shows for this event. It was wonderful to see how many people had already taken part in the walk in previous years and would again this year as well as the ones that asked questions about the walk in general and gave thought to participate for the first time. Frank FM's Sarah Sullivan was there doing a live broadcast as well. I can only imagine how successful TeamWalk with be this year with raising funds to benefit the community patients and their families! I am incredbly blessed and honored to have been named the Honorary Chairperson for the 2010 TeamWalk!

Habitat for Humanity - Women Build Week

On Wednesday, May 5, I organized for a few ladies from my office at PointRight to take part in Women Build Week for the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell. I was amazed to see the progress on the Wiggins Family House which I first worked on in February. The master trench that I helped to dig with Lacey and Brooke was now completely cemented with a floor. The upstairs where we had written our messages of love on the skeleton part of the walls was now enclosed with a beautiful kitchen. I was able to also chat with Debra Wiggins who will be moving in with her family in July and see the excitement build in her eyes knowing that this is her home. She is an amazing woman who is giving back to Habitat by helping with her house as well as the new builds that will be starting in the same development. This time around I learned how to use two different types of table saws, measure out wood panels for the hardwood floors in the closet, and also to use a nail gun to put up the baseboards. This was incredbly rewarding, and who knows, maybe someday I'll be taking up the rug and putting down floors in our master bedroom at our house. I know that Debra's son who has cerebral palsy and her daughter who attends school in Bedford will love their new home. The next time I see Debra will be on June 26 as she is handed the keys to her new home at the dedication ceremony.