Beauty queen fights disease
Nineteen-year-old Erin Beasley, an Evans resident and Miss Magnolia Midlands 2005, is going the extra mile to promote awareness about a rare blood disorder that affects many people, including her father.
Erin Beasley, of Evans, who was crowned Miss Magnolia Midlands 2005, will compete in the Miss Georgia pageant with 52 other women.
Photo by Quandra Collins
"I have been working out religiously, training to run a marathon in San Diego, Calif., in hopes of finding a cure," Beasley said.
When she was 14 years old, Beasley said, her father, Dean, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma - a blood cancer that affects the lymphatic tissue in the body.
On Sunday, Beasley competed in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training 26. 2 mile Coca-Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, raising $3,900 for the foundation.
Now that the race is over, Beasley will compete with 52 beauty queens for the title of Miss Georgia, June 22-25 in Columbus, where the winner will compete in the Miss America pageant in the fall. Fellow Columbia County resident Ashley Foster, Miss Augusta, also will compete for Miss Georgia.
"It would be great to finish as a finalist," said Beasley, a sophomore at the University of Georgia, about her expectations concerning the upcoming pageant. "I feel great that I made it this far."
Since winning the Magnolia Midlands crown in Eastman, Ga., Beasley has been able to meet other people and speak on key issues about the disorder.
"I've really enjoyed being able to have a venue to be a role model, especially to younger children," she said. "I've been happy to share my platform with other people."