Queen for a Day

In 2004 I started the Tampa Chapter of Queen for a Day. Starting the organization has been a life changing experience for me. I spent a lot of my time last week working on a grant for the chapter, which gave me some time to reflect on the past few years. I needed specific information so I went back and looked at each event from 2004 until today. So many memories came back to me, I can’t believe how much the chapter has grown. This is the first time I’ve ever looked at numbers of kids we’ve worked with. I could not believe that we’ve met over 450 children (almost 500 including last week). As I was looking at the pictures, I could recall names and remember their stories. It’s heartbreaking to see some of the children so sick in the hospitals and imagine someone so little experiencing what they are going through. Life is not fair at times, but it’s so great to see the staff at the hospitals working so hard to help make the days a little brighter for the children. I LOVE receiving emails from parents with updates on how their child is doing and the great strides they are making. Recently, I’ve had three events over the past two weeks which is a lot for me. It’s been keeping me busy and there’s nothing else I’d rather do. There is so much I have learned about myself since starting the chapter. I’ve met some amazing people along the way and have had the opportunity to be a part of these children’s lives, if only for a few hours. The feeling that I have inside at each event is indescribable. When I look around and see tons of smiles, I know that I’ve done exactly what I came to do. All of the children that I’ve met through events over the years are my heroes and have impacted my life more than they could ever imagine. I should be in bed right now, getting ready for another event in the morning. All I can think about tonight is how blessed I am that I have the opportunity to be the director of the Tampa Chapter. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for QFAD Tampa.





To get involved with a Queen for a Day chapter in your area visit Queen for a Day
Make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering your time. I know we are all busy, but taking some time each month to give back will give you much more in return.