As the contest winner, Alana will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift card, an official mobileWOMEN.org coffee mug, and a Chair Flair cover, a fashionable accessory that turns ordinary wheelchairs into extraordinary wheelchairs.
We thank our readers for enthusiastically participating in our contest. We are proud to have you all as part of our community!
Alana's winning photo is posted above, and her explanation is as follows:
"I hope this photo “wheelie”
highlights the fact that I am “The Ultimate mobileWOMAN!” I just celebrated my 60th birthday
– but I feel more alive and vibrant today than ever! Growing up as a little “colored” girl whose
hair wouldn’t grow pigtails like her best friends’, whose legs didn’t work like
the other kids on the block, and as child who was told not to dream too big . .
. never did I think I would grow up to
become of all things a professional dancer!
For years after contracting
polio at age five, I hid my leg braces, strapped down my way too big 32DDD
breasts, covered my fat arms, and felt ashamed of my body. When dance came into my life - my hiding days
ended. I now embrace my disability and
my body in ways I never have before. I
put on my form-fitted leotard, look in the mirror and I like what see – flaws
and all.
To be “The Ultimate
mobileWOMAN” you must believe as I do that the only limitations we truly have
are stinking thinking and lack of imagination.
I have learned that if I believe it, I can achieve it. Thus, I overcome
all mental and physical challenges by first embracing them and then finding
ways to turn lemons into lemonade.
I hope my photo and life
example can inspire others to pop a wheelie and DREAM BIG!"
0 comments:
Post a Comment
We would love to hear from you! If you do not have a login, select "Anonymous" to leave a comment. Thank you!