Pageant Contestants to Compete for Title, Support People with Brain Tumors
Pageant Contestants to Compete for Title, Support People with Brain Tumors
Savona Woman Organizes Feb. 12 Benefit to Honor Doctors who Saved her Life
Young women and girls will show off their talents and support people with brain tumors during the Twin Tiers Winter Ball Benefit Pageant Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Ramada Inn in Painted Post. Organized by brain tumor survivor Brandi-Lyn Morse, funds raised will benefit brain tumor patients’ care at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Strong Memorial Hospital.
Approximately 50 children will participate in the pageant and the top fund-raiser will be recognized by Webster Pilcher, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Neurosurgery at URMC and head of Rochester Neurosurgery Partners, which provides care and expertise to doctors across Upstate New York and Western New York.
Morse was diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2009 and sought Pilcher’s expertise for surgery to remove it the mass.
“Once I learned that I had a brain tumor I researched all night long and the information I read kept bringing brought back to Dr. Pilcher,” said Morse, the mother of two young children and a student at Tompkins Cortland Community College. “Now I want to do anything I can to help other people who have brain tumors.”
Morse’s daughter has participated in similar pageants and she decided to organize one near her Savona home and offer other local girls the opportunity to take to the stage. She hopes to organize others throughout the year, all in support of the URMC programs for people diagnosed with brain tumors across the Southern Tier and Western New York
The Medical Center’s neurosurgery program provides expertise and consultation to a number of physicians and hospitals throughout the region. The team also operates 11 outreach clinics in the region, including Corning, Hornell and Dansville.
* The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center
