A beauty pageant with a cause
Miss Antigua & Barbuda-Latisha Greene, Miss Montserrat-Sharissa Ryan and Miss St. Kitts & Nevis- Vashina Bolus were among the 15 contestants in the Miss Regal International pageant who auctioned off gifts for breast cancer awareness. The funds from the auction will be donated to Breast Friends. (Photo by Makeida Antonio/OBSERVER media)
The contestants of Miss Regal International had a very important role to play in breast cancer awareness during a cocktail party and dinner auction which took place in Fitches Creek on Tuesday.
Every single contestant offered their personal testimony detailing how cancer in general has affected them in their daily lives. One of the most touching testimonies came from Miss South Sudan, Sara Sebit, who shared that in her country, many people afflicted with cancer die as a result of not being able to afford treatment, or worse, because they cannot afford screening.
“The poor who have cancer do not have enough money to see a doctor for treatment and some cannot even find the money to get a mammogram or an ultrasound, so they die from it,” said Miss South Sudan.
Another very touching testimony came from Miss Guyana, Nandanee Bhimsain who broke down in tears as she recalled losing her maternal grandfather to cancer.
“I am sorry, but he was very close to me. Every show I would go to, he would jump up and say that’s my granddaughter! He was so proud of me and I am the person I am today because of his inspiration,” Bhimsain said with a heavy heart.
The items placed on auction that evening included national treasures such as the steel pan clock from Trinidad and Tobago, the national men’s dress shirt from the Phillipines known as a Barong, and an interesting jewellery box from St Kitts and Nevis, portraying a monkey drinking Carib beer.
Founder of Miss Regal International, Calvin “Calvin S” Southwell charged the contestants to support breast cancer charities in their home countries when they would have returned after the pageant.
Echoing similar sentiments was Miss Philippines, Maureen Montagne, who told the attendees to think of the items not as materialistic, but as a token in return for charity.
http://antiguaobserver.com/a-beauty-pageant-with-a-cause/
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