An Important Platform

By Rob Peterson

Picking out something to wear with a tiara can't be easy. So, Katie Marie Harman, Miss America 2002, went to some of the finer New York City clothiers with savvy wardrobe consultants from the pageant to choose the outfits she will wear during public appearances.

And while the clothes are lovely, she said, Harman believed that something else will go quite well with her crown: a pink ribbon.

Providing support for terminal breast cancer patients is Miss America 2002 Katie Harman's speaking platform. (AP Photo)

Harman, who was crowned Miss America 2002 in Atlantic City Sept. 22 and won the talent portion on the first night of competition, has made providing support for terminal breast cancer patients as her speaking platform for her year-long reign.

"I am ready," Harman said about educating the public about her platform for the next 11 months. "In the next couple of weeks, I will be solidifying the platform with the media team and nailing down how to approach the platform, which we'll present in Washington D.C. on the 24th of October."

Not that Harman, a communications major at Portland State University in Oregon, hasn't been busy already. She's visited Washington and visited with some of the families and victims from the Pentagon. When she made her aforementioned trip to New York, she toured the World Trade Center disaster.

"Seeing the faces of the rescue workers was moving and inspirational," Harman said, "and to see their courage ... They were my heroes. We're all trying to learn from that courage."

In both Washington and New York, she saw what it meant to be a celebrity during this time of trouble. She now knows what kind of influence Miss America can have.

"The reaction was incredible," Harman said, "and it felt incredible for me to support them. It's important for them to know the public is behind them. It was amazing to me, being down there. People were telling me, 'We like having you down here. Thanks for showing your support.'"

Support is important to Harman. It is the focus of her platform.

� "... but it is also important to support those individuals who are suffering from breast cancer, those who are living with it and those who have cancer that has spread to other areas." -- Katie Harman, Miss America 2002

"As a society and a culture, there has been so many advances in people aware of how to notice breast cancer with early detection and mammography," Harman said, "but it is also important to support those individuals who are suffering from breast cancer, those who are living with it and those who have metastatic breast cancer, cancer that has spread to other areas.

"It's referred to as 'terminal' but I prefer life-threatening. A wonderful man, whose wife died from breast cancer, corrected me, and I appreciate that. It's a victory when you extend the life of any breast cancer patient."

And for those who have life-threatening breast cancer, support is needed on many levels.

"Outside of the physical realm, outside of the surgeries, the chemotherapy and the treatment, there are other needs: emotional, spiritual, mental," Harman said. "What I'm doing as well as focusing on the physical aspect is trying to bring to light the extensive supportive services that are needed, from pain management, to counseling to dealing with lawyers.

"They need to take care of end of life issues. It's a hard thing to do, but these patients can be helped if they are given guidance. Financially, it's another burden. I'd love to see organizations embrace volunteer groups to go into patients' homes to take care of things around the house: make dinner once a week, help with laundry, arrange a scrapbook, the things other people may take for granted. Just to have someone there to help out after treatment or chemotherapy can make a big difference."

While her family has had a few anxious moments ("I did not have a close relative who has had breast cancer. They have had lumpectomies and cancer scares, but nothing that has developed into breast cancer."), Harman became involved with breast cancer patients and awareness after appearing in a fashion show for Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, which gives metastatic breast cancer patients a chance to fulfill a wish.

"It was really interesting," Harman said. "I was modeling donated wedding gowns for Making Memories, who would resell them, with all the money going to fulfill the wishes of dying breast cancer patients. Many of these people are volunteers who have known someone directly or indirectly -- a friend or co-worker -- with breast cancer."

"I realized there was a need for a platform issue regarding breast cancer, because women are at risk. There were some key issues that needed to be addressed."

But the biggest issue is support, more specifically presence of loved ones.

"That's the advice I give: be present in their life," Harman said. "That's the No. 1 advice. It's natural for the patient to be frightened, but you need to be courageous and strong for them.

That's what Harman hopes to be as Miss America: courageous and strong. And when her reign is over, after she has completed informing and educating people about better support for women with life-threatening breast cancer and after she places a crown on the head of Miss America 2003, what will she do?

Harman is aiming high. She'll continue to be present in the fight against breast cancer and she wants to get a master's degree in bioethics. As for her Miss America crown? Well, she has a special place for it. It won't go on the mantle or a display case and not into a museum. She'll place it next to her next most coveted possession: her basketball card collection.

Drexler

"I have a huge basketball card collection," said Harman, a huge Trail Blazers fan. "The card I covet is the Clyde Drexler Dream Team card. The initial set was printed and there were about 10,000 of them. I love that card, but I couldn't find it."

"Then I got it one Christmas when I was a sophomore in high school. It's in a hard plastic case in the attic."

Careful, mothers sometime clean out the attic.

"Oh, no. They're safe up there. I want to save them all for my kids later on," Harman said. "That's what they'll see: the crown, then the cards."