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Shelley Osterloh ReportingIt's been about 20 years since our state has had a Miss Wheelchair Utah, but one young woman is determined to make it an annual event. For her, producing the pageant is just one more challenge to overcome.
Twenty-four year old Meg Hendelman and her friend Katie Warner are preparing the programs for Saturday's pageant. Eight women are vying for Meg's title and crown. She is the current reigning Miss Wheelchair Utah and producing Saturday's Pageant.
Meg Hendleman, Ms. Wheelchair Utah: "We are looking for somebody really inspirational. We want someone to go and speak to schools."
Meg was a dancer and athlete who grew up in Kaysville with her best friend Katie. Two years ago, Meg fell from a 35 foot cliff and broke her neck. Determined to make the best of life, she continued in school and played wheelchair rugby, but it wasn't enough.
Meg Hendleman, Ms. Wheelchair Utah: "There's not that many things for wheelchair girls to do."
Last year she nominated herself and competed in the national Ms Wheelchair America Pageant, winning the spirit award. Her message is "creating a new reality through service" and part of that service is making the Ms. Wheelchair Utah Pageant and annual event.
Meg Hendleman, Ms. Wheelchair Utah: "It's when you serve that you learn about yourself. When you can live outside yourself is when you learn more about who you are and your potential."
Katie Warner, Meg's friend: "Her optimism and her love for life, she is really a charitable person and she looks for opportunities to serve."
Though she is a quadriplegic and her hands are paralyzed, meg has managed to draw a series of giraffe's and put them on baby clothes and hats and a calendar. The sale of those has helped finance the pageant.
She hopes many will come to Saturday's Pageant to hear the inspirational messages from some of Utah's women in wheelchairs. The Ms. Wheelchair Utah Pageant starts at 7:00 Saturday night at Davis High School in Kaysville
