Miss India New England Pageant 2014 Finalists Amritha Mangalat (Miss India New England), Sonali Lappin (Miss India Massachusetts), Mounica Donepudi (Miss Viewer’s Choice), and Anita Ganesan (Miss Talented) performed a fusion Indian dance piece at the Chinmaya Maruti Center in Andover, Massachusetts, on April 4th, 2015 to help raise money and support for cancer awareness and prevention. The event served as a way to engage members of the Indian American and South Asian American community in efforts to prevent cancer and invest in cancer research, including understudied and underrepresented populations.  

The Miss India New England Finalists participants from Saturday’s event come from a range of professional and academic pursuits, including medical school, professional acting, and political communications.

“As women, it is our duty to encourage a strong dialogue in our communities about the prevalence of Breast and Cervical Cancer and the importance of cancer screenings and prevention. All our participants said ‘yes’ to this opportunity and never backed off. Being a working woman, I understand how busy life can be and I appreciate everyone who took time out of their weekend to support BLOOM. They are proof of how to balance your own pursuits with being selfless,” said VT Seva New England Chapter Director Madhavi Donepudi. Madhavi also stressed the importance of youth engagement in community events and noted the impact they can have on impacting change throughout communities.

“Cancer is so prevalent that most people have been touched by it, whether you've lost a loved one or know someone who has, and it's a global problem. Prevention is key, but not everyone has access to these measures. It's our responsibility as members of society to do what we can to help. It is also our responsibility to motivate youth and encourage them to participate in service and awareness. Bloom by VTSeva provided the perfect platform for that and I was proud to be a part of it,” said Miss India New England 2014 Amritha Mangalat.

“I am proud to have been a part of this incredible event alongside my friends and pageant finalists. The incredible turnout from families and youth really showed how much our community cares about this issue and how many of us support this cause regardless of our professional path or personal background. This is something really powerful, a community of people that puts their time, talent, career, personal skills into helping better the lives of others across all fronts,” said Miss Massachusetts 2014 Sonali Lappin.

“I believe that it is our duty to do our part in giving back to our community and especially to the community that truly needs our help back home in India. Bloom hosted by VTSeva was a beautiful event celebrating our cultural uniqueness and using that platform to promote women's health and cancer screenings that are so crucial in India. It was truly an honor and privilege to be a small part of this event and give back to those who have not been as fortunate in this life,” said Miss India New England Viewer’s 2014 Choice Mounica Donepudi.

“While VTSeva is part of a global organization, to make any real change in this world - we have to start with ourselves. We must each learn which screening tests we need and at what age to get them. It is especially important when screening for Breast Cancer. As women, we must take control of our health and make sure to screen early especially if we have a family history of it. By starting with yourself, you can create a strong dialogue amongst your friends and family and perhaps even save a loved one,” said Miss India New England Talented 2014 AnitaGanesan.

VT Seva is a 501(c)3 non profit organization whose vision is to see all children and adults of the impoverished communities of India and other countries have access and opportunities to quality education and health care and enable them to live with dignity and pride. For more information about VT Seva visit: http://www.vtsworld.org/chapters/Boston/index.aspx

To learn more about the event visit: vtsworld.org/chapters/boston/index.aspx
To learn more about Miss India New England Pageant and Finalists visit:
facebook.com/missindiatristate2012?fref=ts
facebook.com/AmrithaM.MINE2014?fref=ts
facebook.com/WOYMINE2014?fref=ts

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