|
Keisha
McCoy, was in the fourth grade when she was diagnosed with
cancer. As a result of the disease, she had to have her
finger amputated. She then had to stay home from school for
safety reasons. While at home, she was bored often and had
nothing to do but play with her dolls. It was then that she
taught herself how to twist and braid their hair. Later, she
started learning actual styles, and thus, her gift was
revealed.
In 2014,
Keisha graduated from Regency Beauty Institute and received
her cosmetology license. This certification has afforded her
the opportunity to establish Transform My Beauty, a non-
profit organization which was birthed to serve individuals
with hair loss due to cancer and rare disorders.
Her vision
is to “visualize a world where every child has the ‘freedom
to be me’ and her mission is to change lives, build
confidence, restore self-esteem, inspire and provide
support. Transform My Beauty is rendering support by making
custom wigs and sew-ins for individuals who have lost their
hair due to rare diseases or cancer.
Each year,
Keisha holds two events; one is Choose Your Beauty,
an event designed to provide women with free, handmade wigs.
These free wigs are made possible through many donations of
hair and other supplies and what isn’t donated, is covered
under Transform My Beauty. After the event, Keisha accepts
applications for wigs which take four to six weeks to
customize and deliver and some forms of insurance are also
accepted and will cover the cost.
The second
event is KoolKids Rip The Runway which was first held on
February 28, 2016. This annual charity event helps expose
the real people behind the condition and allows them to take
part in things they usually would feel embarrassed or stray
away from. The goal is to encourage children that represent
the effects of a terminal illness or rare disease.
These
children are also known as KoolKids. This event is
not a competition, although raffles and prizes will take
place and the purpose is to educate and empower by
providing children with the tools and resources for success,
as well as to provide a strong foundation for confidence and
leadership.
What makes
these events so beautiful is the fact that the founder is
not just someone with an idea, but she has a passion for
them. She has truly learned the art of being confident in
who she is.
Keisha
states, “When I was 10, I had to have my right index finger
removed due to a rare form of cancer. Since then I’ve always
dreamed of producing an event in honor of children facing
hardships and battling terminal illnesses. “Cancer” had a
very special place in my life. It’s not that I can
imagine the battles these children face, I literally
lived them. My passion for hair, to make others feel
good about themselves along with my personal understanding
of the strength it takes to overcome extreme challenges is
the driving force behind this organization. I will be the
voice of the rare and break down barriers expressing to the
world how important it is not to not judge because of how
someone looks, instead, get to know the other side of their
condition which is the human being itself!”
This drive
and passion has taken Keisha to local and national
competitions, such as the prestigious Bronner Brothers Show
in Atlanta where she has placed five times, including
placing first, second and third with her “Glam Fam”,
respectively.
Transform
My Beauty is hosting the second annual event KoolKids Rip
the Runway, a
Fashion/Hair Show for children battling a rare disease or
disorder. Children that present a rare disorder may
participate in this event which coincides with National Rare
Disease Day, February 26, 2017.
The
objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness about
rare diseases and how they impact lives. The show will start
at 4 p.m. at 2201
Parkside Blvd. Toledo, OH, inside the University of Toledo
Scott Park Campus Auditorium. This is an engaging and
interactive event intended to provide KoolKids with
the opportunity to rip the runway as well as entertain and
educate the community through awareness, fun, fashion and
empowerment.
For
tickets please visit Eventbrite.com and search for the
second annual KoolKids Rip the Runway or stop by 4032
Secor rd Suite A Toledo Ohio 43623 to purchase tickets for
$20.00. Admission at the door will be $25. Keisha McCoy may
be reached at 1-844-944-7425 or by sending an email to
transformmybeauty@yahoo.com
. Her website is transformmybeauty.com.
|
