My name is Katie Perry, Miss Rodeo Illinois 2014. I'm from Spring Bay, IL and went to Metamora Township High School. I continued my education by attending Illinois Central College where I attained an Associates Degree in Agriculture. My first job out of college was working in the blood bank at OSF St. Francis Medical Center and the Children's Hospital of Illinois. I worked closely with cancer patients of all kinds on an hourly basis and working with the same patients daily. I quit working there to become Miss Rodeo Illinois where I am Illinois' First Lady of Professional Rodeo. I have traveled over 25,000 miles promoting Illinois, rodeo, the Western way of life, and most importantly cancer awareness. The first volunteer event I worked took place in Kissimmee, FL at Give Kids the World. That event only lasted a couple of hours. All of the state queens who were there enjoyed mingling with terminally ill children and their families. The first family I encountered was that of my patient's. Not only one family but two. I can only say that the Lord did that on purpose. The event will honor a local celebrity who is 5 years old who is in treatment for neuroblastoma. She is Lily Rosploch and you can follow her journey at 'Rally for Lily' on Facebook. I have seen cancer firsthand as well as seen my family struggle with the fight.
This year as Miss Rodeo Illinois, I had a custom pair of chaps made for Tough Enough to Wear Pink nights at the rodeo where Wrangler raises money for breast cancer. On these chaps, however, every cancer color ribbon is sewn down the edge of each leg bringing awareness to all cancer types.
I am having a St. Baldrick's event at the Country Club BBQ on Farmington Rd on December 20th from 2-6p. People will start shaving their heads at 5p and I will donate my hair at 6p. The more money we raise, the more hair I will donate!