Make a Difference With Me!

Hi friends!

We are actively recruiting volunteers for the planning committee for our Coachella Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's, scheduled for March 2015.  There are so many ways to help on our committee, such as with obtaining sponsorships, being a part of the public relations/marketing team, registering Walk teams, and handling day-of Walk operations.  We have such a great group of people who are committed to ending Alzheimer's disease, so please contact me at MrsCAInternational2014@gmail.com for more information on how you can be a part of this dynamic committee!!! 

Also coming up is an Alzheimer's Association fundraising event called "Spa Soiree for a Cause" on Thursday, May 8th from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at The Spa at Westin Mission Hills.  I will be there with bells on and what a great way to raise some much needed funds for the Association with some of your closest friends!

And just released early in March, our 2014 Facts and Figures from the Alzheimer's Association.  In this image alone, you can see, if nothing is done about preventing or curing Alzheimer's disease, the percentage change in the number of seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease will go from 12% in 2014, to 9% in 2020 to 45% in 2025!  We MUST end this disease!

Lots of sunshine from the desert,
Christy Van Der Westhuizen
Mrs. California International 2014

What a whirlwind weekend!

This weekend, Renier and I headed to Las Vegas to meet some VIPs of the Mrs. California International Pageant family, which are a few of our beloved sponsors.  First off, we met Raeanne Smith Ducca of Royal Image Boutique and tried on a few evening gown options for the Mrs. International Pageant.  It was my first time meeting Raeanne and she was extremely warm and funny!  You can tell she LOVES PAGEANTRY! So of course, we had lots to talk about!

She is gracious enough to sponsor my national competition evening gown, which I cannot wait to share with you at the pageant!  It's going to be GORGEOUS!!!

Raeanne and me after trying on a few evening gowns

After a morning of playing "dress up," I got to play "high fashion model," with Terry and Judy Wright.  This was Renier's favorite part of the day, as he is a freelance photographer and loves to speak "photo" with other photo buffs.  He and Terry were two peas in a pod and I could tell Renier was soaking up every second with Terry. They were talking lighting, camera lenses, and other photo jargon that I have no idea about! But Renier was loving it! Judy was just so welcoming (and talented to boot!) and I loved working with her too!  She made me glam, yet still myself, and helped me channel my inner supermodel to create some awesome photos!

Judy helping me get "all gussied up!"

Judy and me after a successful photo shoot!

Renier and I spent the remainder of our Las Vegas trip enjoying the sights and sounds of the strip!  We love to walk around, shop and people-watch!  After a few more trips to the outlet malls, we headed home to Palm Desert on Sunday night.  What a whirlwind weekend!

Also happening right now is the national Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum in Washington, DC. Nearly 1,000 Alzheimer’s Association advocates, from all 50 states, are delivering an important message to Congress: Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America, with costs set to skyrocket in the years ahead. Over the next 40 years, caring for people with Alzheimer’s will cost our country $20 trillion, so we need to urge Congress to continue its commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s by increasing funding for Alzheimer’s research by $200 million in fiscal year 2015. 



For more information on how to be an Alzheimer's Association advocate, go to: http://www.alz.org/advocacy/take-action.asp.

Why I Walk to End Alzheimer's

There are so many reasons why I have walked in 15 Walk to End Alzheimer's in the past five years and I'd like to share them with you now.

I WALK for my beloved Grandma Jean Sayer, who lost her battle with Alzheimer's disease nearly two years ago.

Grandma Jean and me on her 90th birthday in 2012

I WALK for my husband's dear Aunt Heila, who lost her battle less than six months ago.

Hy husband, Renier, and me at the Coachella Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's in March 2014

I WALK for my future children, so that Alzheimer's disease is only a small part in their history books, not in their medical charts.

I WALK for the residents of Mission Hills at Rancho Mirage, who show me daily that even the smallest and briefest moments of happiness can make the biggest impact.

With some terrific Mission Hills residents

I WALK for the thousands of families I have met through five years of working in the senior living industry, who are in desperate need of guidance, love and support.

Let's Walk to End Alzheimer's!!

I WALK for the terrific staff members and volunteers of the Alzheimer's Association, who work tirelessly to get Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in the public spotlight, so that we can increase awareness, support and much needed funds.

Anne Gimbel, regional director of the Alzheimer's Association, me, and Lee Miller, committee member and Walk Team chairperson at the Palm Springs VillageFest.

And finally, I WALK FOR ALL, so that in 2050, when the researchers say our worldwide count for Alzheimer's disease will be past 115 million people, we will have said that we have successfully stopped this epidemic.

JOIN ME TODAY!  Visit www.alz.org for much more information about the Alzheimer's Association and the Walk to End Alzheimer's.

With hugs,
Christy Van Der Westhuizen
Mrs. California International 2014

What's Coming Up for Christy!

I cannot believe that in less than four months, I will be at the Mrs. International Pageant (insert squeals, jumps, and high kicks - if I could do them) in Jacksonville, Florida!!  I am just thrilled beyond belief and the welcome I have received from the International Pageant family and hundreds of supporters has been overwhelming.  I'm just raring to go and ready to GET BUSY!

Over the next few months, you'll get to go on my Mrs. International preparation journey with me, which I'm so excited to share with you all.  First thing up on the "to-do" list is this weekend, Renier and I will drive to Las Vegas to shoot my official head shots and crown shots for the Mrs. International Pageant.  The Mrs. California International Pageant has been so graciously sponsored by Judy Wright (Beauty by Judy), and Terry Wright Photography.  They will tag-team and create my Mrs. International look within a few short hours.  They are miracle workers, I can tell you!  They are also the official hair & make up artist, as well as photographer, for the Mrs. California International 2015 Pageant coming in September.  You can see more about the upcoming 2015 pageant at www.CaliforniaINTL.com.

I cannot wait to share with all of you the stunning images that I know are coming!    You can visit www.terrywrightphotography.com to see some more of Terry and Judy's work.

I also want to say a huge thank you to Peterson Productions, specifically Eddie Peterson and Dennis Cooke, who have been some of my biggest supporters throughout the years.  I entered my first California International Pageant in 2010 and felt the overwhelming love way back then, and the outpouring of love just continues!

Also on my agenda this month, we'll be choosing my International Pageant wardrobe (insert another squeal), completing my pageant application, working to obtain sponsors who make these dreams reality, and creating my International Pageant platform page designed specifically to educate and inspire people to join forces with the Alzheimer's Association.  Both my husband, Renier, and I have lost dear family members to Alzheimer's disease and we are working diligently to make sure that Alzheimer's disease funding and research DOES NOT STOP until we reach an end to this heartbreaking illness.  I'll be sharing more on how to become an advocate and how to become involved with the Alzheimer's Association in a future blog post.

Lots of hugs from the beautiful California desert,
Christy Van Der Westhuizen
Mrs. California International 2014