Issue 13: Milena - Passionate Pageant Queen & Cancer Awareness Advocate

30% of deaths in Canada are connected to Cancer, making Cancer the leading cause of death for Canadians. After witnessing first-hand, the impacts of this disease, Milena has dedicated her pageant reigns and life to raising awareness and funds towards Cancer Research.

When Milena was 10 years old, her father was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, he passed away after fighting the disease. After witnessing the impacts of this horrible disease, Milena vowed to dedicate many hours of volunteering and fundraising to give back to the organizations who supported her family and still do even 8-years after – The Northern Cancer Foundation and the Maison McCulloch Hospice.

Over the past 2-years, Milena has raised over $20,000 for various initiatives that support families and children battling Cancer. Her biggest fundraiser to date is through the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer organization. Additionally, she started her own sewing business where she sews and sells scrunchies, headbands, and masks with proceeds donated to charities aiming to support families and individuals with cancer.

Milena aims to make an impact towards the lives of individuals and families suffering with cancer, as well as further research to aid in the search for the cure. As the current Miss Teen Heartbeat and a delegate in the Miss Northern Ontario and Miss Teen Galaxy Canada Pageants, Milena aims to raise awareness and funds towards this cause; in hopes this inspires others to become passionate about the cause as well. It takes a city to change a city, she says, with more people and communities supporting the change of this issue the cure for cancer will soon be in our hands.

Milena wants you to be inspired to make a change within your community and “If you can Dream it, you can do it”. (Walt Disney).