Rebecca Blitch wasn't expected to live through childhood. Instead, she graduated with honors from Eckerd College.
By RACHEL E.D. TUDOR
Published October 17, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - Since she was a toddler, Rebecca Blitch has lived with a disease that was supposed to kill her. Yet, year after year she surprised everyone by not just surviving but by thriving. Her achievements peaked last week when she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2005 in a ceremony at the St. Petersburg Hilton.
"I believe in just being me rather than being perfect," said Blitch, 24. "We need to break down the barriers and take risks. When we come out of our comfort zone we can see life differently."
The Ms. Wheelchair Florida Pageant is not a typical pageant involving glamor, swimsuits and talent contests. Though many of the contestants are dressed in evening gowns, the focus of this pageant is not beauty. It is an advocacy program for people in wheelchairs.
Blitch was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy when she was only 13 months old. The doctors gave her only a few years to live, but she continually surprised everyone as each birthday passed.
She was the state poster child for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1985 and 1986, and she attended Walsingham Elementary, Seminole Middle, and Pinellas Park High schools before she went to Eckerd College.
She was a National Merit Scholar and valedictorian of her high school. She received a full academic scholarship at Eckerd College and graduated with honors with a B.A. in religious studies in 2002. She volunteers as a reading tutor and gives presentations with her service dog, Sydney.
Blitch was one of 15 contestants at the pageant. Each brought her motto for life and talked of dreams and careers. They all want to make life easier for the next generation of disabled Americans.
The Ms. Wheelchair America pageant was started in 1972 by Dr. Philip K. Wood. He saw the strength and abilities that many patients in wheelchairs possessed. In 1974, Florida became apart of the pageant through Ms. Wheelchair Florida. Today, 30 states around the country have entered this pageant to increase awareness of the needs of those in wheelchairs.
The contestants are judged on their personalities, accomplishments, communication skills and the desire to be a voice for the disabled.
One of Blitch's duties as the new Ms. Wheelchair Florida is to complete speaking engagements at schools, hospitals, and civic organizations to advocate for people with disabilities and to represent the needs of the disabled.
Blitch plans on attending the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant in Albany, N.Y., in July.
