Michelle Boyd DeJong honored posthumously with “Spirit of Life” award by the U.S.A. Ambassador Pageant during the Final Show of the 2016 National Pageant Week.

TAMPA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, August 31, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Michelle Boyd DeJong was honored posthumously when she was selected to receive the “Spirit of Life” award by the U.S.A. Ambassador Pageant during the Final Show of the 2016 National Pageant Week at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on Sunday, July 31st.

The Spirit of Life award is presented each year to an individual who embodies “Success through Leadership, Integrity, Character and Confidence” (SLICC), which represents the qualities that the pageant works to promote within their contestants, queens and their families.

Pageant co-founder, Kristin Thurston met Michelle when their life paths intersected in the oncology waiting room at Moffitt Cancer Center. Coincidently, Kristin and Michelle’s radiation therapy appointments were scheduled back to back each morning for six weeks during the Spring of 2014. A friendship was born and it was fostered by a mutual interest in using their cancer diagnoses to make a positive impact in their community. During her 23-month battle against Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, Michelle took one of her favorite sayings to heart, "BElieve THEre is GOOD in the World". This inspiring woman, not only strived to be a fighter for her own life, but also made a resounding impact in the Tampa Bay community, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars while inspiring everyone around her to lead better lives with her “Be the Good” mantra. Thurston explained, “I only wish I had met Michelle sooner in life, but I'm truly thankful that in some strange way, I was able to meet such a giving, heartfelt, loving person. While it wasn't the way two would plan to meet, I count my blessings every day that I had the opportunity!”

In addition to the “Spirit of Life” award, the U.S.A Ambassador Pageant presented a donation for $1,010 to the Fighter Foundation, a Tampa-based, non-profit organization created in honor of Michelle Boyd DeJong and inspired by her “fighter” mentality to raise funds for brain tumor research and awareness, support quality of life improvements for brain tumor patients and their caregivers while promoting community involvement and civic pride.

For more information about the Fighter Foundation, please visit http://fighterfoundation.org

For more information about the U.S.A. Ambassador Pageant, please visit http://usaambassador.com

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