Local woman named 'Miss Kindness' at Miss Wheelchair World
A Sherwood Park woman says representing Canada at Miss Wheelchair World in Tijuana, Mexico was "the most amazing experience."
Melissa Exton spent more than a week in Tijuana sightseeing, getting dressed up and talking with other like-minded women who use wheelchairs.
"What we did was share our story. We shared what our struggles were on a daily basis," she told CTV News Edmonton from her Sherwood Park acreage.
LIFE-CHANGING PAIN
Exton started using a wheelchair about 10 years ago after a surgical procedure to treat chronic migraines went wrong.
She says the migraines improved but she was left with debilitating pain when standing or walking.
"It did change my life a lot. I can't work anymore," she said. "I was a nurse and I loved nursing and caring for people so that was a big loss in my life."
She started volunteering regularly with kids and became interested in events supporting people in wheelchairs.
In 2018, she participated in Miss Wheelchair Canada and about a year ago learned she was chosen to represent Canada at Miss Wheelchair World.
"The organization that puts on the pageant, their mission statement is that everybody is beautiful," she said.
"Even if one person takes inspiration or gets a little bit of hope that would be amazing."
MISS KINDNESS
Exton believes she was picked as 'Miss Kindness' because she befriended several contestants who were struggling at the event including one with a cumbersome wheelchair.
"The contestant from Guatemala has this old, heavy, beaten down wheelchair that broke my heart to see so I committed to raising money to buy her a new wheelchair," she said.
Exton returned home a few weeks ago but she is confident she has created lifelong friendships.
"It's really cool because there are all these people from around the world friend requesting me on Instagram or Facebook and just wanting to chat," she said.
"The disabled are a really a tight-knit community and we always want to help each other so I love that."
THE FUTURE
She hopes the trip will lead to similar opportunities in the future and will give her a larger platform to discuss accessibility issues.
"For healthcare we are trying to get nurses and doctors more educated about what it's like to live with a wheelchair because there's still a lack of education about that," she said.
"Just because Canada is bright and shiny and amazing it doesn't mean there aren't things I am fighting for."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.