The Empress Walk

I will never forget my 40th birthday.  A milestone for most was for me the most dramatic experience of my life.

Living with Graves, both Graves Disease and Myasthenia Graves, is a daily reminder of this new chapter and a new lease on life to make a difference for others.  I just didn’t know at the time what I could, especially in my condition, do to help.

When my friend Tanish told me of the hardship she was experiencing with her mother’s battle with cancer, the feelings of desperation and worry were overwhelming and all too familiar.  Such a heart-felt conversation exposed our own feelings about the health and well-being of both our families as well as ourselves as African Canadian women.   Too many of us are living and dying from cancer, fibroids, cysts, diabetes, lupus, heart disease, autoimmune issues and much more.  This has to change.

A few months back, we, my husband and I, had started a special events company and lounge, Empress Lounge.  The title Empress for me was an affirmation of confidence, positive messaging and elegance that represented all women.  Tanish was a model and is a beautiful girl, inside and out.  She loved fashion.  The more we talked that night, the more  the thought of a fashion fundraiser came to my mind to help her mom with the purchase of her prosthetic leg.

I told her what I was thinking and though Tanish si a humble character who doesn’t actively seek attention, she  agreed adn eventually saw the need to involve others in our crusade.

That night The Empress Walk was born.

Sometimes, simply the desire and willingness to help is all you need.  Your destiny will do the rest and come to you.