Members of the Geneva community are putting on a special charity beauty pageant to honor of a little boy who passed way from cancer.
Last October, two-year-old Mason Tapia lost his 14-month battle with brain cancer. In his memory, family friends are putting on the pageant to benefit local children battling terminal illnesses.
“In the bigger pageants we have done, charity is a huge focus. We’ve had some local tragedies we wanted to shed a positive light to,” said pageant director Angela Ponteri. “Toddlers and tiaras, the famous show everybody thinks pageants are, it’s not that. It’s not about the crowns or the fake teeth. This shows you can do this (pageants) and still give back.”
Mason’s family said the pageant is a fitting tribute and are grateful to help other families in his memory.
“When I spoke at my grandson’s funeral, one of my biggest fears was that people’s lives would go on and he would be forgotten," said Mason’s “Nana” Kim Buskirk. "For him to be honored in such a large way and continue to help other children and families that went through the same nightmare that we had to live, words cannot say thank you enough.”
Pageant details:
- When: Sunday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m.
- Where: Geneva Community Center and begins at 10:00 am.
- For more information: Email Angela Ponteri at angelaponteri@gmail.com; message Angela on Facebookor call her directly (440) 228-1319
